ADHD 365

Free ADHD Behavior Charts

2009-04-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

One way to regulate the behavior of ADHD children is to use ADHD behavior charts. ADHD is a behavior disorder marked by hyperactivity and inattention.

With behavior charts, parents can keep track of their child's behavior on a day-to-day basis. The goal of the chart is to reward the child for good behavior and minimize undesired behaviors and symptoms.

If you would like to use a behavior chart, make sure you concentrate on rewarding positive behavior rather than stressing the negative ones. To be effective, a behavior chart must be used for at least four to six weeks.

You can download behavior charts for ADHD for free online. For example, Freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com has a number of no-cost ADHD and applied behavior analysis charts that parents can download.

Answering the Question: What Is ADHD

2009-03-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

To answer the question what is ADHD, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is the most authoritative resource.

In order to receive a diagnosis of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, the patient must present with six or more specific symptoms for at least six months. The symptoms must also be severe enough to be inappropriate or disruptive for the patient's level of development.

The three categories of possible symptoms are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Symptoms of inattention include difficulty staying focused on school work or paying attention to details.

Fidgeting, squirming, and an inability to remain seated are all symptoms of hyperactivity. With regard to impulsivity, the patient may speak out of turn, interrupt others, or have difficulty waiting.

Online ADHD Test

2009-03-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

Curious whether you have ADHD? On PsychCentral.com, you can find a quick 24-question ADHD test to see if you might have the diagnosis.

The quiz will ask you to rate the truth of 24 statements from "not at all" true to "very much" true. When you answer the questions, you should do so according to how you've felt and acted for most of your life as an adult.

The questions ask about things like your ability to focus, tendency to complete plans, and your activity level. Once you complete the questions, you can click to get a score and analysis of your results.

If you have trouble completing the 24-item questionnaire, you can also complete a shorter quiz on the same site. The shorter quiz has only six items.

Exposure to Tobacco in Womb One of Possible Causes of ADHD

2009-03-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

Research indicates that prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke is one of many possible causes of ADHD.

A recent article published in Biological Psychiatry indicates that babies exposed to smoke in the womb have a higher risk of developing ADHD.

For babies who are genetically predisposed to ADHD, smoking during pregnancy drastically increases the likelihood of the disorder. Interestingly, children who are at higher risk for developing ADHD also are at higher risk for substance-abuse disorders.

"When the child has either or both of two specific forms of dopamine pathway genes (DAT and DRD4), and was exposed to cigarette smoking in utero, the risk for having combined type ADHD (many inattention and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms) increased 3 to 9 fold," stated one of the study's authors, Dr. Rosalind.

Disordered Sleep Tied to ADHD in Children

2009-03-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

New research has tied an underlying sleep disorder to ADHD in children.

A recent study published in this month's issue of the journal Sleep offers further evidence that children with ADHD may have chronic sleep deprivation and irregular REM sleep.

The study found that kids with ADHD sleep an average of eight hours and nineteen minutes. This sleep time was thirty-three minutes less than that of children without ADHD. The children in the control group slept an average of eight hours and 52 minutes.

In addition, the researchers discovered that kids with ADHD spend less time, about 16 minutes on average, in REM sleep than non-ADHD children.

"I do not believe that sleep per se is the cause of ADHD, but it may make the symptoms worse in children with sleep problems," explained the study's main author, Dr. Reut Gruber of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.

Meditation Works As ADHD Treatment

2009-02-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

A new study indicates that Transcendental Meditation may be an effective ADHD treatment.

The research suggests that meditation can help improve attention span, ameliorate anxiety, and relieve stress in ADHD children. The study was published in the journal Current Issues in Education.

The purpose of Transcendental Meditation is to calm the body and quiet the mind while sitting silently for ten- to fifteen-minute intervals. A mantra is also repeated in the mind repeatedly during meditation.

The ADHD children in the study engaged in this type of meditation for 10 minutes two times each day. After 3 months of meditation, the children reported reduced anxiety and other symptoms of ADHD.

List of Famous People Diagnosed with ADHD

2009-02-16T14:56:00.000-08:00

If you have ADHD, you are in good company. Several of the most creative and talented people in history have also had the illness. Here is a list of famous people diagnosed with ADHD or suspected to have ADHD.

Jim Carrey

Howie Mandel

Bill Cosby

Robin Williams

Jason Kidd (NBA player)

Ty Pennington

Pete Rose

Michael Jordan

Sylvester Stallone

Vincent Van Gogh

Pablo Picasso

Special ADHD Diet May Help Alleviate Symptoms

2009-02-13T09:29:00.000-08:00

Though the correlation is tenuous, there may be some evidence that a special ADHD diet may help alleviate symptoms of the illness in children.

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have difficulty concentrating, are impulsive, and are extraorindarily active. Typically, medication is used to allay these symptoms, but adjustments in diet may also help.

Some research suggests that supplementing an ADHD child's diet with omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oils, may help attenuate symptoms. These supplements are thought to correct the deficit of omega-3s that ADHD children are suspected to have.

Other diets geared toward ADHD children concentrate on eliminating certain processed and artificial foods. For example, the "elimination" diet advises children with ADHD to avoid preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, high-sugar beverages, and sweets.

ADHD Symptoms Can Manifest in Different Ways

2009-02-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

Alan, a salesman from Edmonton, Canada, was diagnosed with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as an adult. ADHD is a hereditary neurochemical imbalance usually regarded as a childhood disease.

Alan received his diagnosis more than 2 years ago, when he sought counseling to salvage his 3rd marriage. Relationship and interpersonal difficulties and multiple marriages can be ADHD symptoms.

"My wife was getting frustrated with what she perceived as my lack of attention to her," Alan recalls. "I would say I would do things and she was thinking I wasn't going to do them, but in my mind I was going to do them, but in my own time, type of thing. We were on two different time planes, something that kept boiling up with her." Procrastination is another sign of ADHD.

A psychologist provided Alan with an educational article on adult ADHD. Alan recognized parts of himself in the article, but his wife's agreement with the description was what was made the diagnosis official for him. About ten million American adults and about 1 million Canadian adults have ADHD, but many sufferers are unaware of it.

ADHD Medications Can Cause Hallucinations

2009-02-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

Physicians already know that young people taking ADHD medications may suffer psychiatric side effects from the medication, like hallucinations, paranoia, hearing voices, and manic behavior. As of 2007, the FDA estimated the incidence of adverse psychological side effects from ADHD drugs at one in every 1,000 children.

However, a new study printed in a journal called Pediatrics indicates the risk of psychotic side effects at 1.48 for every one-hundred person-years. Scientists define a person-year as the overall number of years of medication treatment. For instance, one hundred children taking a medication 1 year translate into one-hundred person-years.

The report also demonstrated that psychiatric side effects were experienced even by children who were not elevated risks for manic behavior or psychosis, such as drug abusers or those with additional mental illnesses. Of the 8% of American children between ages four and seventeen who have a diagnosis of ADHD, over 50% are on meds for the illness.

With most children, the medication-induced hallucinations were tactile and/or visual, causing the sufferers to see or feel things like insects and snakes. The symptoms usually vanished once the children discontinued ADHD medication.

Howie Mandel Raises Awareness about Adult ADHD

2009-02-06T16:17:00.000-08:00

Howie Mandel, a well-known game show host, is boosting the public's awareness of adult ADHD with a campaign called "Adult ADD is Real."

As a child, the host of the show "Deal or No Deal" struggled with impulse control and paying attention, which resulted in a host of scholastic problems. Mandel had no idea what was wrong until he was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. Mandel has said he reacted to his diagnosis with overwhelming relief.

Currently, Howie wants to make it known that ADHD is an authentic disease with effective treatments. According to Mandel, treatment is always an option, no matter how late in life the disorder is discovered.

The "Adult ADD is Real" campaign aspires to motivate those who suspect they suffer from ADHD to get evaluated by a medical professional. A recent study reported that ADHD affects an estimated 9.8 million Americans.

What an ADHD Coach does

2009-01-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

Not many people have heard of an ADHD coach. In fact, when they hear the word ADHD, they immediately associate it with a crazy kid that cannot control themselves. In essence, this is true most of the time. But, there are also different types of ADHD that people need to be made aware of. With the insertion of an ADHD coach, some kids can get fixed without the need for medication. The reason behind this is that it is the theory called mind over matter. Sounds pretty simple, but it is the most difficult thing to do. If you can do it, then you are good.

There are Different ADHD Types

2009-01-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

There are many ADHD types out in the world today. Some are really extreme cases of ADHD, where it gets to be violent and they strike out at people. Others are really minor and just fidget when they try to stay still. Most people are somewhere in between these two extremes. Some might exhibit the inability to concentrate on stuff. Others might not be able to stop running around at times. It is a disorder that afflicts many children and adults across the nation. So, there have been a lot of studies done on this and we are still learning so much.

ADHD Stats are Fake

2009-01-01T20:32:00.000-08:00

ADHD stats are fake just like all of the other stats out there. Many of the stats say that over 75 percent of kids have ADHD. This is just not possible, that would mean that 3 out of 4 kids have ADHD. This means that in a classroom of 28, there are 21 kids with ADHD. That is ridiculous. Some kids are just rambunctious and this does not mean they have a disorder. Kids need to be kids, if they cannot be loud, then they are not kids. Again, I must say that this is stupid. When I was growing up, it was not like this.

What are Some ADHD Causes?

2008-12-30T10:41:00.000-08:00

No one really knows what the ADHD causes are. Doctors continue to speculate because they cannot really find it. ADHD has become more and more popular over the past few years due to more awareness by the general public. There are have numerous studies done on it and still we cannot find the cause. Many are saying that is genetic, but this does not hold true all of the time. Others are saying that it is caused by chemical imbalances. This is also false some of the time too. Could it be that ADHD is just kids being kids? I think that is it.

The Relationsip of ADHD Omega 3

2008-12-26T22:45:00.000-08:00

In recent studies it has shown that children with ADHD, when compared to children without ADHD, have a much lower blood level contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is omega 3. Omega 3 is a fatty acid necessary for normal function of the eyes and the cerebral cortex. Although this correlation has not been completely confirmed, it is strongly suggested that ADHD children increase their intake of omega-3. Such possible ways are through eating more seafood, flax, and taking DHA pills. However, because a child’s diet should not just be based on medication, doctors advise that children increase their omega 3 intake through a more natural way.

What is ADD and ADHD

2008-12-23T22:33:00.000-08:00

ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. They are both a reference to the same type of disorder that is hereditary and occurs in the brain. ADHD or ADD is when one has poor attention, is easily distracted, and displays impulsive or hyperactive behaviors. It is a very common disorder developed in children and if left untreated, can severely affect the adult life. The only difference between ADD and ADHD is that those diagnosed with ADD do no display the impulsive/hyperactive behavior. However, these two terms are used interchangeable for those who do and do not display such behavior.

What are some Caused of ADHD?

2008-12-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

The causes of ADHD are still unknown in this day and age. With all of the medical breakthroughs and technology that we have, we are still unable to determine kids and adults have ADHD. That is kind of sad. Most people think it has some link with genetics and is passed on from generation to generation. This notion is a good one and hopefully they can find out for sure in the near future. Until then, there are medicines available for people to take to control this disorder. Ritalin is the most popular and is quite effective. Do not forget to take your pills.

Here are some Tips on how to Deal with ADHD

2008-12-16T03:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some tips on how to deal with ADHD whether you are the person, or you are trying to help a friend out. For some, these tips will help a lot, but for others, no matter how hard they try they will not find these tips useful. First off, if you are trying to sit still, then concentrate on something. Use all of your brainpower for it and you will not fidget as much. If you trying to be coherent while you speak, then take deep breaths between sentences. These are just some small tips that will hopefully make life a little better.

What ADHD Therapy to Undertake

2008-12-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

Many people have proposed an ADHD therapy that involves lots of activity. What this is supposed to do is tire out the body and therefore tires out the mind. But, the affects of ADHD is that the person loses concentration easily. So, this type of therapy would not be very useful in everyday life. Others have recommended yoga because it calms down the mind and yet at the same time causes the body to be in movement. This has proven to be effective for many people and doctors are now recommending it for more of their patients. There are other methods out there.

Do You Need ADHD Help?

2008-12-09T17:14:00.000-08:00

Do you think you have ADHD, well if you do then you need ADHD help. There are actually many hotlines out there for people to dial who have ADHD. You can call these hotlines and talk to a representative on the other end. They will be able to help you diagnose your problem. If you are still not sure after that, then consult your doctor. They will run blood work for you and check how your brain is working. If you do happen to have ADHD, you will probably get some pills prescribed that you need to take on a daily basis.

The Risk of ADHD Moms

2008-12-05T01:21:00.000-08:00

ADHD moms are a big risk to their children. What if they lose patience with their baby because they do not know how to make the baby quiet down? Once the ADHD kicks in, no one knows that the mother will do then, not even the mother herself. She might even violently injure the child. Therefore, if a mom has ADHD, it is best to make sure that she is at least on medication. Then, make sure that she takes some classes on how to handle babies, toddles, and kids. From there, you have to keep a watchful eye on her to make sure that she is okay.

What Kind of ADHD Behavior to Expect

2008-12-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

So, your kid has ADHD. What kind of ADHD behavior can you expect from him/her? Well, first off, expect a very low attention span. So, make sure that you communicate whatever you need in quick manner or else they will lose interest quickly. You may see your kid fidget a lot too. They will not be able to sit still for very long. So, get them something to play with. Your kid might also get violent, that is why it is important to teach them how to be a good person. From there, each kid reacts a different way to ADHD, so keep an eye out.

What ADHD Charts Show

2008-11-29T02:46:00.000-08:00

ADHD charts are great way to keep track of what is going in the life of your child. These charts tell all of the data that you need to know about diet, behavior, and whatever else you desire. From looking at charts, the parent can make a decision about what to change for diet, play time, or any other pertinent thing. It is not a hard to do, as all you need is to monitor the pertinent data. From there, get the results printed out and look at them. If you need help to understand, go to your doctor and he will tell you all.

What to do with ADHD and Diet

2008-11-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

ADHD and diet go hand in hand. What you eat will cause your ability to control the ADHD to go up or down. Basically, what this means is that people with ADHD need to have a special diet. Whether you are a kid or an adult, try to stay away from food with high sugar content. Lots of sugar causes the body to get hyped up and could cause the ADHD be full blown. What this means, is that the kids might be literally jumping off the walls, while the adults would not be able to do anything coherent. A steady diet of greens is recommended.