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ADHD diagnosis

Sleep Problem or ADHD?

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Sleep disorders and ADHD share many of the same symptoms. Children with sleep apnea were found to have symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, and aggressive behavior, which are similar to symptoms of ADHD. As for adults, symptoms of sleep disorders are also similar to those of ADHD. Both include trouble concentrating, problems with organizing, memory problems, and difficulty completing tasks. Sleep problems are extremely under-diagnosed in both children and adults, possibly because few pediatricians and physicians claim to be confident about helping patients with sleep disorders.
With sleep problems causing and potentially exacerbating symptoms of ADHD, it is important for people with ADHD to get a good night’s sleep. Remember to refrain from using electronics before sleeping. The light emitted from phones, laptops, and TVs interfere with the body’s melatonin levels and disrupt the sleep cycle. Also, talk to your doctor about concerns with sleep. If you think your behavior is not just caused by a sleep problem, Dr. Gordon is here to help with identifying and treating ADHD.

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

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written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Breus, M. J. (2013, May 1). ADHD or Sleep Disorder: Are We Getting It Wrong? | Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201305/adhd-or-sleep-disorder-are-we-getting-it-wrong

 

ADHD diagnosis

White Noise to Improve Attention

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Due to the belief that people with low dopamine levels may benefit from external stimulation in order to better concentrate and perform tasks, white noise was suggested to help children with ADHD perform better in school. Although, white noise may be distracting for people without ADHD, it may provide enough brain stimulation for people with ADHD to improve their functioning.

This idea was confirmed through a study of one boy in first grade who had ADHD. Instead of focusing on his schoolwork, his attention was often on verbal, motor, and passive off-task behaviors. Verbal off-task behavior includes talking when not permitted to or making sounds for the class to hear. Motor off-task behaviors include standing, walking around, or playing with school supplies. Passive off-task behaviors are the times that a person visually focuses on something other than the task at hand. Before the boy was prescribed medication and before he listened to white noise, his behavior was off-task for about 89% of the time. When he listened to white noise in class with headphones, his off-task behaviors decreased to about 62% of the time. Even better results occurred when he began taking ADHD medication and listened to white noise, which reduced his off-task behavior to only 45%.

Since the addition of white noise through headphones increased attention in this boy with ADHD, other children may likely benefit from white noise as well. The sound, not only, immediately reduced all types of off-task behavior, but it also led to improvements in writing and math assignments. Perhaps most importantly, the child agreed that the white noise was helpful and easy to use.

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

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written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Cook, A., Johnson, C., & Bradley-Johnson, S. (2015). White noise to decrease problem behaviors in the classroom for a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 37(1), 38-50. doi:10.1080/07317107.2015.1000234

 

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Movement May Improve Performance in Children with ADHD

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A 2015 study of 52 boys between 8 to 12 years of age found that moving in the form of spinning or rolling in a chair, fidgeting, getting out of a chair, among other physical movements may actually increase the performance level of children with ADHD. Over the course of 4 weeks, these boys, some diagnosed with ADHD and some without ADHD, completed a series of memory tasks in a classroom-like setting. Their levels of movement were carefully observed, as were their levels of attention to the task.

As expected, the boys with ADHD showed more movement behaviors and fewer attentive behaviors than the boys without ADHD. Interestingly, higher levels of movement experienced by boys with ADHD were positively associated with higher scores on the memory tasks. In other words, the more that boys with ADHD moved and fidgeted, the higher their scores were.

It may seem counterintuitive that more movement could possibly cause ADHD children to earn higher scores. However, according to research, it actually makes sense. Children with ADHD have decreased activity in the frontal and prefrontal cortexes in the brain. Since physical movement increases cortical arousal, the extra movement may create the brain activity that these children normally lack. So, the movement that increases cortical arousal may cause children with ADHD to perform better than they would without moving.

 

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

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written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Sarver, D. E., Rapport, M. D., Kofler, M. J., Raiker, J. S., & Friedman, L. M. (2015). Hyperactivity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Impairing deficit or compensatory behavior? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. doi:10.1007/s10802-015-0011-1

 

ADHD diagnosis

Siblings of Children with ADHD

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The entire family is affected by a child’s ADHD symptoms. Research regarding the siblings of children with ADHD reveals that they are negatively affected by the other child’s behavior. Here are some commonly reported feelings experienced by siblings of children with ADHD:

  • Feeling less important or forgotten about due to the family focus on the ADHD child.
  • Experiencing sorrow because their family is not “normal.”
  • Feeling victimized by their ADHD sibling due to acts of physical and verbal aggression and, therefore, constantly having to keep vigilant.
  • Frustration due to living in an environment with conflict and noise. Siblings often desire a more quiet and peaceful place.
    Feeling as though parents minimize their ADHD sibling’s violence and aggression. Oftentimes, violence is not taken seriously, leaving siblings with a sense of unsafety.
  • Resentful feelings due to ADHD controlling the family’s vacation, parties, holidays, etc.
  • Feeling as though it is their duty to take care of the sibling. For some children, this caretaking role is viewed positively, but for others it is a difficult burden.
  • Feeling as thought their identity is defined as being the sibling of an ADHD child.
  • Wanting their parents to understand what it is like to have a sibling with ADHD.

It is important to remember that one person with ADHD affects the whole family. If necessary, family intervention should take place in order to better maintain a healthy family life despite the struggles with ADHD. Siblings’ concerns regarding the ADHD child’s aggression should be taken seriously as safety is a priority and proper treatment for aggression should be utilized. Siblings should be involved in the treatment of the ADHD and should be rewarded for their help with the care of the ADHD child. Perhaps, most importantly, parents need to spend alone time with the non-ADHD children in order to keep a healthy relationship and give the child as much individual attention as possible.

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

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written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Kendall, J. (1999). Sibling accounts of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Family Process, 38(1), 117-136. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1999.00117.x

 

ADHD diagnosis

Tokens for Good Behavior

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Token economies have been successful in reinforcing positive behavior in children with ADHD. As the name implies, a token economy involves giving a child a token for each good behavior. These tokens can be in the form of a sticker chart, coins, or anything that physically indicates the child’s good behavior. Be sure to establish a reward for earning a certain number of tokens. Here are some tips for successfully managing a token economy:

  • Begin an economy where, in the beginning the child earns rewards frequently. Over time, the rewards can become less frequent.
  • Make sure the reward is reinforcing to the child. Let the child choose which reward he/she wants to receive upon earning a certain number of tokens.
  • You can take away token for bad behavior. However, the reason for removal of tokens must be clear to the child and consistent.
  • Never remove all tokens or leave the child with a token “debt.” This has been shown to be ineffective.

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

Get Started

written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Reynolds, C., Vannest, K., & Harrison, J. (2012). The Energetic Brain. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

 

ADHD diagnosis

Cavities in Children with ADHD

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Children with ADHD have a higher prevalence of dental cavities than children without ADHD. Specifically, children with ADHD are nearly 10 times more likely to have decayed, missing, or filled teeth.

Different theories exist as to why these children experience more cavities and worse oral health in general. Behavior may be to blame for these problems. Factors such as not brushing enough, lack of motivation to maintain oral health, and/or parents using sugary rewards for good behavior may contribute to more cavities. One possibility is that ADHD medication often causes xerostomia, or dry mouth, as a side effect. Since saliva serves as the mouth’s natural protection against cavities, lack of saliva may lead to an increased number of cavities.

A 2012 study examined 3 groups of children; one group had ADHD treated with medication, one group had ADHD not treated with medication, the other group consisted of children without ADHD. If medication causes dry mouth, which leads to cavities, then the ADHD group of children treated with medication would have the highest rate of cavities. However, both groups of children with ADHD had more plaque than the children without ADHD. This suggests that medication is not to blame for poor oral health in children with ADHD.

What can you do to prevent cavities for your child with ADHD?

  • Shorter intervals between dental check-ups
  • Reduce sugary foods in diet
  • Monitor children when they brush their teeth
  • Use fluoride rinse after brushing at night
  • Do not eat anything after brushing at night
  • Use 2-minute hourglass timer to encourage longer brush time

 

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

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written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Rosenberg, S., Kumar, S., & Williams, N. (2014). Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication and dental caries in children. The Journal of Dental Hygiene, 88(6), 342-347.

adhd sticker chart

Sticker Charts!

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A great way to motivate your children to behave well and get their homework and chores done!

A visual reminder of chores and appropriate behaviors is critical for children just as many adults need a to-do list.

  1. Create a chart listing all chores and behaviors that your child should complete by the end of the day.
  2. Add stickers under each completed chore either at the end of the day or immediately following the chore. Let your child pick out the stickers in order to add to his/her excitement of receiving them.
  3. After a certain number of stickers are earned, reward your child!Many children love to earn the privilege of going to a store and choosing their own toy, for example. Other reward ideas include choosing a movie to watch, choosing a restaurant for dinner, or inviting over a friend each month. Make sure your child knows the rules and rewards for the sticker chart before starting so that he/she is motivated to behave well. Keep the chart somewhere your child can easily see it, such as on his/her bedroom door.Here is an example of a sticker chart for you to use as a model for your own:

adhd sticker chart
Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

Get Started

written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

ADHD diagnosis

Why Punishment Doesn’t Work

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People often assume that the reason for ADHD is lack of punishment. This can be very insulting for parents as it is assumed that their lack of discipline is to blame. However, lack of punishment does not cause ADHD and increased punishment does not improve ADHD.

ADHD is a factor of a child’s neurochemistry and physical brain. Just as someone who cannot hear well or see well should not be punished, those with ADHD should also not be punished. Anger and frustration result since punishment often leads to a coercive behavior cycle. This occurs when some authority (a parent, teacher, or boss) gives an order. When the person with ADHD does not listen to this order, the authority becomes angry and frustrated. The authority can either physically force the other person to complete the order or give up and ignore the order. This eventually causes more frustration for all people involved.

The key to dealing with ADHD is not punishment, but increased use of positive reinforcement, skills training and proper use of effective compensatory strategies. An ADD/ADHD coach can help develop and apply these strategies. In order to better cope with your or your loved one’s ADHD, contact Dr. Gordon.

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

Get Started

written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Reynolds, C., Vannest, K., & Harrison, J. (2012). The Energetic Brain (pp. 28-30). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

ADHD diagnosis

Parenting a Child with ADHD: The A³PC Method

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Although, parenting a child with ADHD can be frustrating, techniques exist to help parents promote their child’s success. The A³ parent-child interactions technique focuses on providing affection, positive attention, and affirmation to help children cope with ADHD.

1. Affection
Children with ADHD typically receive negative attention from peers and adults, which makes it even more important for them to receive affection at home. It may be difficult to show affection when a child’s behavior is frustrating, but take notice of how often you are giving affection to your child and try to increase that number.

2. Positive Attention
Giving affection is part of giving positive attention, but more than affection must be shared with your child. Try to give 10 -20 minutes of undivided attention to your child with ADHD per day. During this time, have your child choose a game to play or allow him/her to simply talk to you. Developing a positive relationship with children allows them to develop higher self-esteem and confidence, which is important for children with ADHD.

3. Affirmation
Praise is essential to encourage good behavior. Saying phrases such as “good job,” is only a start to praising your child. More importantly, praise must target a specific behavior. In order to make sure your child knows exactly which behavior warrants praise, tell them specifically which behavior was good, what that behavior means, and the consequence of the good behavior. For example, “great job (praise) doing all your math homework (specific behavior), that is very responsible of you (meaning of behavior). Now you can understand the math lesson better tomorrow” (consequence of behavior). This kind of speaking may seem awkward at first, but an awkward start is worth promoting good behavior!

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

Get Started

written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Reynolds, C., Vannest, K., & Harrison, J. (2012). The Energetic Brain (pp. 28-30). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

 

ADHD diagnosis

Strengths of Those with ADHD

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Although, the word “disorder” has a strongly negative connotation, it is essential to keep in mind that those with ADHD do have strengths. Some behavioral characteristics of ADHD can actually help, rather than hinder, successful performance. Here are some strengths that those with ADHD often display:

Energy. When high energy is channeled in a proper direction, it can be a powerful source of work ethic and achievement. Energy gives people the motivation to begin new projects, create innovative ideas, and lead others. Ty Pennington, host of the former show Extreme Home Makeover, attributes his success to his highly creative energy due to ADHD.

Focus, passion, and exuberance. People with ADHD can experience long periods of “hyper-focus.”  This occurs when their high energy and passion leads to becoming completely engrossed in a certain interest. For example, you may notice that a child with ADHD is extremely involved with one activity, such as reading a book or playing chess. Interruption of this activity can lead to anger or irritability; however, such intense focus can be beneficial for completing tasks that demand attention.

Multitasking. Leadership positions often demand that a person be able to switch quickly from one task to another, which many with ADHD are able to do effectively. Those with ADHD are typically able to process lots of information quickly, which is beneficial in all areas of life.

Contact Dr. Gordon for help with your ADHD. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.

Get Started

written by:
 Brianna Malinowski, 
Jay Gordon, Ph.D

Reynolds, C., Vannest, K., & Harrison, J. (2012). The Energetic Brain (pp. 28-30). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.