EmpoweringParents.com » ADHD/ADD

ADHD Kids May Need Help in Recognizing Emotions in Others

Dr. Robert Myers — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:19:34 +0000

Have you ever been in a situation in public where your ADHD child continues to annoy others (or you) with their inappropriate behavior, even though you’ve given them every cue that they should stop? A recent study* conducted by The University of Western Australia found that ADHD boys had a hard time correctly identifying the emotions of facial expressions in drawings they were shown.

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Help for Kids with ADHD: Meditation, Deep Breathing and Positive Imagery

Dr. Robert Myers — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:51:27 +0000

Recently, meditation has been featured in Newsweek as a way to help kids to calm down and focus.

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ADHD Kids Can Have a Great Summer with a Little Planning Ahead

Dr. Robert Myers — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:56:31 +0000

Summer is that time every kid looks forward to. It is the “light at end of the tunnel” of a long school year. It is a time to “let loose” and have a great time. But for kids with ADHD this is a big change, and not always a positive one. The day-to-day structure goes away, the daily routine is gone. In just a few days or weeks, this long-anticipated break can become a potential nightmare for ADHD kids and their parents. Because fairly soon, these kids are going around whining and saying, “I’m bored.” They come in complaining about an argument with peers or they make a game of tormenting their siblings.

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Dr. Bob on ADHD: To Medicate or Not to Medicate?

Dr. Robert Myers — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:00:12 +0000

I fully understand the concerns of parents regarding medication for ADHD. My wife and I struggled with this when my son was 5. He had a great response to stimulant medication and remained on medication until he was 14. He suffered no observable side effects. He is a 6’4” guy who completed college with honors and has been employed for 5 years in the film industry and currently is an editor for a top rated cable network show. We were at our wits end and what we called “the small vitamin” was a miracle drug. At home we also used psychosocial interventions from time to time during his formative years.

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Early Intervention Helps Children with ADHD

Dr. Robert Myers — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:26:46 +0000

The earlier you can diagnose ADHD, the better. Kids often struggle in school and in the community due to a lack of help and from a misunderstanding of their condition. This often leads to frustration, increased inappropriate behavior, poor academic achievement, and eventually low self-esteem and depression, not to mention an increased likelihood for substance abuse. Early and appropriate intervention can prevent these serious consequences, and instead promote healthy development with the prospects for a more satisfying life in childhood and as an adult. If you suspect that your child may have ADHD, start with a trip to a trusted pediatrician and go from there.

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Do Food Additives Make Hyperactivity Worse in Kids with ADHD? (Maybe it’s a Food Allergy…)

Dr. Robert Myers — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:40:05 +0000

Many of you have been talking about the effects of diet and food additives on kids with ADHD, so I wanted to weigh in on this topic.

In a well-known UK study last year, the effects of artificial food color and additives (AFCA) on kids found that food additives make hyperactive behaviors more pronounced in children as young as 3 and up to middle childhood, around 9 years of age. The study found that a significant though small group of children exhibited hyperactivity as a result of drinking a specially concocted drink containing food colors and preservatives.

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ADHD: A Treatment with No Side Effects? New Study Says Behavioral Therapy is as Effective as Medication

Dr. Robert Myers — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:18:15 +0000

I have long believed that behavioral therapy is the key to helping kids with ADHD. In fact, a new study on ADHD said that comprehensive behavioral therapy works as well as medication over the long haul. Also, earlier studies showed that after 14 months, 30% of the behavioral therapy group did just as well as those with medication. Of course, there are no side effects to behavioral therapy—except, perhaps, much happier parents and kids. (more…)

The Connection Between ADHD and Bullying

Dr. Robert Myers — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:00:24 +0000

The February issue of Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology features a study that says kids with ADHD are more likely to be bullied at school–or to actually be bullies themselves.

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New Study: Kids with ADHD have Different Brain Development

Dr. Robert Myers — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:00:33 +0000

There is some new, fascinating cutting edge research that says that kids with ADHD have different brain patterns than those without. Pictures have been taken of the human brain that clearly demonstrate the difference in cortex thickening between those with ADHD and a control group, and significant differences were found. (more…)