Breastfeeding — The New Ritalin?

Posted by on May 16th, 2013 | 2 Comments

New research suggest it is
Mimouni-Bloch, A, Kachevanskaya, A, Mimouni, FB, et al. Breastfeeding May Protect from Developing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Breastfeeding Medicine. 2013; doi:10.1089. Accessed May 14, 2013. Full study: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/bfm.2012.0145

The May 14, 2013 issue of Breastfeeding Medicine reports that breastfeeding may offer a protective effect from ADHD. The Israeli scientists performing the study say breastfeeding may keep children from developing ADHD even as they get older.

The Israeli researchers recruited 6 to 12 year-olds diagnosed with ADHD.These children were matched up with two sets of healthy control groups. The control groups were the ADHD children’s siblings who did not have ADHD, and 6 to 12 year old children with similar backgrounds. Siblings were included because they likely have similar genetic and
environmental backgrounds as the children with ADHD.

The researchers found that children who had been diagnosed with ADHD were breastfed less often than their healthy peers. Here’s the breakdown:

* At one month of age, only 63 percent of children with ADHD were breastfed.

* At one month of age, the non-ADHD kids were breastfed 86 percent of the time while the ADHD children’s non-ADHD siblings were breastfed 79 percent of the time.

* By six months of age, only 29 percent of the ADHD children were breastfed while 50 percent of their healthy siblings and 57 percent of the non-related children were breastfed.

“A stepwise logistic regression … demonstrated a significant
association between ADHD and lack of breastfeeding at 3 months of age, maternal age at birth, male gender, and parental divorce,” the researcher wrote. “Children with ADHD were less likely to breastfeed at 3 months and 6 months of age than children in the two control groups. We speculate that breastfeeding may have a protective effect from
developing ADHD later in childhood.”

One can’t help but ask if the child’s propensity to be distracted, fussy, or moody could have a difference in the outcomes of this study. In other words, were they breastfed less because of ADHD like symptoms early on, or does the act of breastfeeding actually act as a protective effect.

Mimouni-Bloch, A, Kachevanskaya, A, Mimouni, FB, et al. Breastfeeding May Protect from Developing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Breastfeeding Medicine. 2013; doi:10.1089. Accessed May 14, 2013. Full study: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/bfm.2012.0145

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Study Says Most Doctors Don’t Follow ADHD Treatment Guidelines for Preschoolers

Posted by on May 6th, 2013 | No Comments

Does yours?

Published in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Study presented Saturday at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
author Dr. Andrew Adesman

New treatment guidelines were published recently by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These guidelines now allow for an ADHD diagnosis in children as young as 4-years old. The new guidelines are somewhat controversial because three out of the four common medications used to treat ADHD patients are not FDA approved for use among children that young.

Much like the guidelines in the United Kingdom, the new AAP guidelines recommend that behavior therapy be the first treatment approach for preschoolers with ADHD. Treatment with medication is a last resort option used when behavior-management is unsuccessful.

A study presented Saturday at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ annual meeting in Washington, D.C. reports that about 90% of the pediatric specialists who diagnose and treat preschool children do not follow those treatment guidelines. According to study author Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, some pediatric specialists prescribe medication too soon and some do not offer them as a second line treatment.

In a medical center news release, Adesman noted, “It is unclear why so many physicians who specialize in the management of ADHD — child neurologists, psychiatrists and developmental pediatricians — fail to comply with recently published treatment guidelines.”

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Is It More Than Just ADHD?

Posted by on April 26th, 2013 | No Comments

New study sheds some light
Reported in the journal Science
Study author: Brian Butterworth. Butterworth is a professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience of the University College London

Research in the journal Science reports that up to 10 percent of all children are thought to have learning disabilities. This would amount to two or three kids per classroom.The researchers found that the disabilities have complex causes.

It’s estimated that nearly 10% of all children have ADHD, but it usually doesn’t occur by itself according to the researchers. They cited that 33 percent to 45 percent of children with ADHD also have dyslexia and 11 percent also have dyscalculia.

Dyslexia is a reading, writing and spelling disability frequently associated with auditory processing issues. Dyscalculia is a math learning disability.

The researchers stated that learning disabilities are the result of abnormal brain development caused by complicated genetic and environmental factors.

“We now know that there are many disorders of neurological development that can give rise to learning disabilities, even in children of normal or even high intelligence, and that crucially these disabilities can also co-occur far more often that you’d expect based on their prevalence,” said study author Brian Butterworth in a university news release. Butterworth is a professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience of the University College London

Butterworth’s team noted that if a child has multiple learning disabilities, they may be overlooked when one gets an ADHD diagnosis. The diagnosis may overlook dyslexia for example. Not knowing may lead to frustration by both student and teache as well as inadequate instructionr. Knowing a student has both learning disabilities would allow the teacher to properly accommodate the student’s needs.

The study reinforces the fact that one needs to get a good evaluation form a specialist, not just a short 20 minute visit to one’s pediatrician. Proper instruction can come only when one has full knowledge of student needs.

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Mom, My Greatest Advocate

Posted by on April 24th, 2013 | No Comments

Reported by: http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/17/10068.html
www.additudemag.com

If you’ve been kicked in the shins by school administration, you should read this. Schools will help. You have to know how to be an advocate.

“While it’s true that some of teachers and administrators may have been the experts when it came to knowing more about educational policies and strategies, they never knew more about my child. It’s taken 12 years of IEP meetings, being kicked in the shins by administrators, and laughed at for my ideas to help me realize that when it comes to my kid, I am the expert. I only wish I had the same strong feeling about myself many years ago. ”

http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/17/10068.html

ADHD IEPs and School Accommodations: Coming into My Own as an Advocate for My Child
www.additudemag.com

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ADHD in Children & Cell Phone Use

Posted by on April 22nd, 2013 | No Comments

Is there a link?

Reported by University College of Medicine in Korea
Survey by: NIT DOCOMO’S Mobile Society Research Institute

Researchers at the University College of Medicine in Korea hypothesized that children who use cell phones may be at a greater risk of developing ADHD. Cell phones emit low dose electromagnetic fields(EMF). They discovered a link.

NIT DOCOMO’S Mobile Society Research Institute reveals that nearly 70% of all children surveyed use a cell phone. In some countries, use exceeded more than 80%.

Since it’s obvious that cell phone exposure is nearly impossible to avoid, it is important to know if cell phone EMF can cause ADHD. To determine if a connection exists, the researchers analyzed data from more than 2,400 elementary school children for ADHD symptoms and cell phone exposure. These data were acquired through the use of parental reports.

The researchers waited two years and interviewed the participants again. They found that children who used cell phones for voice calls were more likely to develop symptoms of ADHD than those who didn’t. However, ADHD symptoms were only statistically significant in children who also had high levels of lead in their blood.

Significantly, the researchers found that children who stopped using cell phones during the study period had a much sharper decline in ADHD symptoms than those who continued using cell phones.

Some nations around the world are either banning or limiting cell phone use by children, and some by those under the age of 12 years-old. The United Kingdom, Israel, Belgium, Germany, and India have discouraged use of cell phones by children. France is considering law which would make it illegal to market cell phones to children. Russia has recommended that children under the age of 18 years not use cell phones at all.

What cannot be determined by the Korean study is reverse causality. Other studies indicate that ADHD children are compelled to use their cell phone more frequently. So, the study cannot say whether cell phone use causes ADHD or whether ADHD children just use their phones more frequently.

Also, prior studies have exposed a connection between lead levels and ADHD. So, while there may be a connection between cell phone use and ADHD, that link cannot be determined specifically through this study. Based on current research, it is intelligent to limit cell phone use or use the cell phone with a wired headset to keep the cell phone away from the head.

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The Top Vitamins, Supplements, and Foods for Your ADHD Child

Posted by on March 19th, 2013 | No Comments

http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/11/9970.html

A FREE Webinar from ADDitude magazine

This is a great opportunity to learn how diet can make changes for your ADHD child.

http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/11/9970.html

ADHD EXPERT WEBINAR: Best Bites — Top Nutritional Choices for Your ADHD Child
www.additudemag.com
Join us for the expert webinar hosted by Sandy Newmark, M.D., on Monday, March 18, 2013 at 1 PM EST. ADHD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment information for adults.

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Does ADHD Last My Whole Life?

Posted by on March 14th, 2013 | No Comments

A new study sheds light
Reported in US News & World Report, published health.usnews.com

US News& World Report cites a study that shows ADHD persists as one ages and produces more problems in adulthood.

The researchers also shed light on our current process of diagnosis, stating:

“We should use caution in describing this constellation of behaviors as a ‘disease,’” he said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says doctors should do an evaluation for ADHD for any child aged 4 to 18 who has behavioral problems or is falling behind at school. But that should also include a thorough assessment for learning disabilities, emotional issues or physical conditions that could be causing their symptoms — such as sleep apnea.

Barbaresi’s advice to parents: “Don’t accept a cursory evaluation and a prescription.”

Read the entire article: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/03/04/adhd-can-often-persist-into-adulthood?page=2

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Are They Just Being Kids or Is It A Disorder?

Posted by on March 4th, 2013 | No Comments

Published: in the February 23rd edition of the Wall Street Journal
Parents wonder if they jump to the wrong conclusion

A balanced article in the February 23rd edition of the Wall Street Journal ponders this question. Because the medical and psychiatric communities have so many different disorder labels, it’s very difficult to know whether your child is just developing normally or is suffering from some disorder or another.

A good example from the article:

“One of the doctors in his practice recently saw a child who had been licking his shirt in preschool. The teacher had told the parents that the child should be evaluated by an occupational therapist for a suspected sensory problem. The pediatrician ultimately convinced the parents that the child was developing normally, Dr. Cohen says.”

Parents often don’t want their child to be labeled as this stigma may be long lasting. However, if a correct diagnosis is made, it can be life changing as well.

Read the full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324338604578326112816120302.html?mod=WSJ_article_comments#articleTabs%3Darticle

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Finishing Tasks Strategies

Posted by on February 27th, 2013 | No Comments

Finishing tasks can be a problem for all of us, but for those with ADD or ADHD it’s a major issue. This applies whether you are an adult or child. Here are a few strategies to help:

1. Break the task down. Often times breaking a task into small doable segments will help you get the full project down.

2. Set a timer. During your task, set a timer to start and end. If you know you can clean your kitchen in a half hour, set the timer and stick to it. That way your kitchen gets cleaned in a half hour instead of three!

3. Prep! Place all materials needed for the job close to the job. For example, if you get all your cleaning supplies out the night before and leave them on your kitchen counter, you’ll be prepared for the full cleaning the following day. It also serves as a reminder and a little impetus to avoid procrastination.

4. Reward yourself. If you’ve done your prep and set your timer, your project will get done on time. Plan to give yourself a reward if you meet your goals. Remember to set reachable goals and appropriate rewards, i.e. don’t eat a whole container of Häagen-Dazs for just cleaning your kitchen on time.

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ADHD and Smoking Later in Life

Posted by on February 26th, 2013 | No Comments

ADHD and Smoking Later in Life
Is there a connection?
Article published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.
New research published online in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood (Oct. 29) says that childhood ADHD may increase the likelihood of smoking later in life.

The researchers examined blood samples from 450 ADHD children aged 6 to 12 years, their siblings, and parents. The samples were tested for genetic variations strongly associated with smoking attributes. These included:

1. The number of cigarettes smoked every day.
2. Starting smoking.
3. Quitting smoking.
4. Times of smoking.

The researchers also asked the mothers about their smoking habits during pregnancy. The data indicated that ADHD people are more likely to start smoking early and to smoke twice as much as those without ADHD.

This research is similar to research indicating a relationship between ADHD and drug use in later life.

Although the study found an association between the genetic variant and ADHD and smoking behaviors, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship so further research is necessary.

However, even without a cause-effect relationship, the data need to be heeded. Start early prevention.

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