There’s a growing push to focus on our brain differences, not deficits. This wider view of “normal” is a big part of something called neurodiversity. Advocates hope the idea expands how we think of developmental disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If the concept goes mainstream, it could lead to big changes in education … Read more
Noor Pannu couldn’t believe it. Her psychiatrist had just diagnosed her with ADHD. But she didn’t trust him. She’d read that people with the disorder did things like get into fights and have trouble with the law, and that wasn’t her at all. “It took me a long time to accept it,” she says. … Read more
Devon P.’s son was about 5 years old when he found out that he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2018. While in preschool, Devon says he showed many of the hallmark symptoms for ADHD, like unending energy, hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity. He was also having trouble learning. But what caught Devon’s attention most … Read more
SOURCES: Denise Leung, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, medical director of quality, Department of Psychiatry, NYPH-CUIMC; program medical director, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital Community and Acute Outpatient Psychiatry Services, Child and Adolescent Health, New York City. Edward M. Hallowell, MD, board-certified child and adult psychiatrist, author of ADHD 2.0: New … Read more
When Dana Rayburn learned she had ADHD in her 40s, her doctor prescribed Adderall. She did well on the drug for a few years, but then her insurance stopped covering it. Rather than struggle to pay $200 a month for the medication, she decided to try going off it. For other adults with ADHD, side … Read more
Like many adults with ADHD, Justine Ruotolo took a stimulant (in her case Adderall XR) for her symptoms. Then, about 11 years ago, she started meditating. Shortly after that, she began to shake after taking her pill. Ruotolo’s doctor lowered the dose, but 6 months later it started happening again. She decided to go off … Read more
For most of Zach’s school years, he struggled with procrastination and had a hard time getting organized. People would often tell him that he needed to manage his time better or find systems that would help handle his schedule. But those suggestions never seemed to solve the problem. So he wasn’t surprised when he was … Read more
It takes a lot of work to keep a healthy relationship with your spouse or partner. That can be even more of a challenge when you have a child with ADHD. “Anytime you have a child with a condition like ADHD that impacts his ability to socialize, to follow rules, to learn, and listen, it … Read more
Kids who are younger than most of the students in their grade may have a harder time paying attention, sitting still, or controlling their behavior. Those things happen to be symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), too. ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders in children in the U.S. But some … Read more
If your child has ADHD, it’s important to talk with him about it. “It’s never too early to start talking with your child about his ADHD,” says Patricia Collins, PhD, director of the Psychoeducational Clinic at North Carolina State University. You want them to be involved, to understand, and to be on board,” says Terry … Read more