ADHD
PositiveTip for
Late Bedtimes in Very Young Can Have Long Lasting Consequences
Posted by Galen Bosley on
Early bedtimes during preschool years reduces risk of ADHD.
Children who do not get early, adequate sleep before the age of 4 are more likely to develop ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). A study of 6868 preschool children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort has found that early, regular bedtimes is a strong predictor of normal development. Lack of regular sleep in this age group leads to inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and ultimately lower academic performance.
PositiveTip: The long-term benefits of getting your young children to bed early are significant--in spite of the challenges.
PositiveTip for
Children with ADHD Often Have other Disorders
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Four million US children have ADHD and most have other disorders.
Data from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health of kids between 6 and 17 years with parent-reported diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reveals they were far more likely than children without ADHD to have other disorders such as learning disabilities, behavior disorders and depression. Only one-third of those with ADHD had no other cormorbidities. Those with ADHD were also significantly more likely to repeat a grade and have school-related problems.
PositiveTip: If you suspect your child has ADHD, ask your physician to do a thorough diagnosis--then work closely with health care providers to provide the best treatments.
Early Childhood Sleep Deprivation May Lead to ADHD
Posted by Gary Hopkins on
The report from the Kaiser Family Foundation goes on to discuss other issues related to the media and sleep:
“Sleep problems in middle childhood tend to be persistent. This fact raises the question as to what, if any, are the long-term effects of media use on children’s sleep. It may be, for example, that there is a critical window early on in which good sleep habits are established.
One prominent sleep researcher has argued that sleep problems in early childhood may have adverse developmental impacts that are not fully observable until years later. This researcher speculates that early sleep deprivation in children is part of the cause of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Tell Me More about ADHD
Posted by Gary Hopkins on
What exactly is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?
In a previous blog we discussed ADD; many of the features from ADD overlap into ADHD. Someone with ADHD may have some or all of the following symptoms:
PositiveTip for
Stimulants and Youth: A Sobering Association
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Common stimulant medications linked to sudden, unexplained deaths in youth.
There have been increasing concerns in recent years that stimulant drugs commonly given for ADHD may be associated with an increased risk of sudden, unexplained death in young people. In a new retrospective, case-controlled study researchers have reported the probability that those using the most commonly prescribed stimulant (methylphenidate) was 7.4 compared to those who were not. (If it had been 1, then the probability would have been the same for each group.)