For those who need it, Adderall and other stimulants can be game-changing medications that help restore the chemical imbalances underlying ADHD. But for those who don’t, these drugs can be harmful.
ADHD diagnoses are on the rise, a trend that might in part be driven by overdiagnosis. A new study finds that white children are especially likely to be overdiagnosed and overtreated for ADHD.
Rob Rosenthal, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Although medication and therapy can be effective treatments for ADHD, they’re not the only way to manage the disorder or its symptoms. Creating a daily routine is critical too.
While only about 20% of people would qualify for a formal diagnosis of a mental disorder, more than 60% express symptoms of those disorders – and those symptoms can lead to cognitive difficulties.
Maria Corkin, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Newer screen technologies provide a more interactive experience for children using digital devices. The benefits can be similar to play time with traditional toys.
Even when the condition lasts a lifetime, there are behavioral treatments and prescription drugs that make it easier for people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder to thrive.
Not every child with mental health difficulties has a diagnosis. An approach that focuses on symptoms rather than diagnostic labels can help support children who could benefit from treatment.
After a year of COVID-19 lockdowns, lack of focus, irritability and restlessness don’t necessarily point to an ADHD diagnosis. Consider some of these common causes of these symptoms, and ways to cope.
The Observer recently ran an interview with US expert Bruce D Perry who claimed that children’s hyperactivity “is not a real disease”. Perry, senior fellow of the Child Trauma Academy in Houston, Texas…