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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

 

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.

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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

Stimulant Drug Misuse

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Recent research has found that 17% of college students misuse ADHD stimulant drugs. These drugs are popular at college campuses as they are assumed to help students focus on studying, therefore leading to an academic boost. In reality, the misuse of stimulant medications is associated with lower academic performance. It should be noted that “misuse” is defined as either using medication without a prescription or using higher doses of medication with a prescription.

According to research on various college campuses, the most common source for obtaining stimulant medication is from fellow students who are properly prescribed the drugs. As many as 82% of students consider it “somewhat or very easy” to illegally obtain stimulant medications. This is an astonishing number as it suggests that most students know of someone through the grapevine who distributes these drugs.

Misusing drugs allows people to think that ADHD is not serious. It may cause people to think that ADHD drugs are simply non-serious drugs to be toyed with. Due to the prevalence of the misuse of stimulant medication, prescriptions have become harder to receive for people who truly need the medication.

Although, it may be seen as a way to make money, ADHD stimulants are Schedule II controlled substances, which are illegal to possess without a prescription. People should be reminded that giving their ADHD drugs to other people is a serious felony with medical and criminal consequences.

As for solving this drug problem on campus, awareness of the harm and criminal consequences should be made more apparent. Since those involved in Greek life on campus have been shown to have higher rates of stimulant medication abuse, perhaps, programs should be designed to educate this population. Additionally, stricter punishments should be implemented for those Greek life members or any students caught abusing stimulant medications.

Please remember that this problem, although largely researched in the college population, is not limited to college students. Always keep your medications safe from others!

 

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

Benson, K., Flory, K., Humphreys, K. L., & Lee, S. S. (2015). Misuse of stimulant medication among college students: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 18(1), 50-76. doi:10.1007/s10567-014-0177-z

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.

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

ADHD diagnosis

Types of ADD/ADHD

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ADD may have either a predominantly inattentive presentation, a predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation, or a combined presentation.

Inattention Symptoms:

  1. Makes careless mistakes in work; fails to give attention to details
  2. Difficulty paying attention during tasks
  3. Does not appear to listen when spoken to
  4. Does not follow instructions; fails to finish tasks
  5. Difficulty keeping things in order (including managing time)
  6. Avoids, dislikes, or hesitates to engage in tasks that demand extensive mental effort (writing essays, homework)
  7. Loses things needed for tasks (losing pencils, keys, glasses)
  8. Easily distracted (both by external events and unrelated thoughts)
  9. Forgetful (forgetting chores, bills, returning calls)

Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Symptoms:

  1. Fidgets with hands, taps feet, squirms in seat
  2. Leaves his/her seat often when sitting is expected
  3. Runs or climbs in inappropriate settings (or feeling restless in adults)
  4. Unable to remain quiet during activities
  5. Acts as if “driven by a motor”
  6. Talks excessively
  7. Answering before the question was finished or not waiting turn in conversation
  8. Difficulty waiting for turn
  9. Interrupts or intrudes on others

At least 6 (or 5 for those 17 and older) symptoms of inattention must be present for at least 6 months in order for ADD to be predominantly inattentive.

At least 6 (or 5 for those 17 and older) symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity must be present for at least 6 months in order for ADHD to be predominantly hyperactive/impulsive.

If enough symptoms from both categories are present, a combined presentation may exist.
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

Barlow, D., & Durand, V. (2015). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach (7th ed., pp. 515-516). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

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.

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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.

ADHD diagnosis

ADD Students – Homework and ADHD

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Tips for Assisting ADD Students / Students with ADHD

  • Organizing information and note taking: Students with ADD / ADHD require extra assistance to organize and prioritize their homework. At home, parents can help organize and prioritize assignments and record important dates onto a home calendar.
  • Providing a quiet environment for ADD Students: Make sure that the homework environment is quiet with minimal distractions.
  • Maintaining a routine: Routine brings order and order assists in the facilitation of focus. Homework should be completed at the same time each day in the same quiet environment.
  • Break into parts: The academic rule of thumb is that there should be 10 minutes
    of homework added on for each grade level, i.e., 4th graders should be able to handle 40 minutes of homework each night. However, for a child with ADHD, 40 minutes may be too long to sustain attention on one given subject area. Therefore, homework should be ‘chunked’ into smaller segments.
  • Manage time and set goals: After helping your child break their homework into smaller segments or chunks, set time completion goals and accuracy goals. Use a timer to externalize the time cue and provide the additional structure.
  • Rewarding: Use positive reinforcement. Keep your attention focused on positive behavior. Set clear reward for homework completion and even for completion of each homework ‘chunk’ discussed above.
  • Consequences: Adhere to the plan and set up realistic consequences for not completing the homework.
  • Communicating: Communication between the teacher, parent, and child is critical. Establish a weekly or even daily report card which reports missing assignments, test grades, and up coming projects and tests; and
  • Seek professional help: Know when it is time to ask for assistance from professionals.

students with ADHD

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

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ADHD diagnosis

Tips for Creating an ADD-friendly Study Environment

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ADD affects a multitude of characteristics that make it difficult to complete quiet tasks. Distractibility, short attention span, trouble concentrating, and hyperactivity are contradictory to the characteristics needed to complete homework and studying.

A recent article describes ways to create a less distracting environment for students with ADD during musical instrument lessons. These tips can be extended to creating a less distracting environment for the completion of homework and other quiet activities.

To create the best environment for your loved one with ADD, try these suggestions:

  • Clocks. Avoid ticking clocks as these can be distracting to children with ADD.
  • Phones. Silent phones during the child’s homework time. Children with ADD can be, not only distracted by the ringing noise, but also by thoughts of thecontent of the phone call.
  • Windows. Homework should be completed away from windows as weather, cars, animals, and people outside the windows can take attention away from homework.
  • Aromas. Smells of food can be especially distracting to children with ADD. Keep a closed door between the study environment and the aroma of cooking.
  • Interruptions. Unless it is an emergency, do not allow any visitors or family members to interrupt your child when he/she is doing homework.
  • Background noise. The study environment should be away from any distracting background noise including loud conversations or television.
  • Pets. Animals in the study space can serve as a distractor during homework.

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

Melago, K. (2014). Strategies for successfully teaching students with ADD or ADHD in instrumental lessons. Music Educators Journal, 101(2), 37-43.

ADHD diagnosis

What is ADHD?

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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, is a developmental disorder in both children and adults that impairs the ability to sustain attention and focus, resist distraction, and regulate behavior.

AN OLD DISORDER WITH A NEW NAME

Although the current term, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, has only been around since the 1980s, the disorder has been described under other names asearly as 1902. However, Attention Deficit/HyperactivityDisorder is still poorly named. ADD/ADHD is more a disorder of inhibition and self-regulation rather than a disorder of attention. If people with ADD/ADHD have a natural interest in a particular stimulus, they will have no difficulty paying attention to it. However, if they need to regulate and control their attention to something that is NOT of significant interest to them, they will find themselves having substantial difficulty.

We can help!

Cutting edge, effective, non-drug treatments are available to improve focus and attention, and to help individuals achieve greater success in school, careers and relationships. Most importantly, our aim is to improve your child or loved one’s self-confidence and feeling of well being for a happier, healthier, and more productive life!

ADHD Evaluation –

In order to develop the proper specialized solutions to the problems a person with ADHD and their family are confronting it is crucially important that there is an accurate diagnosis.

An accurate diagnosis will ensure a clearer understanding of the nature of the difficulties being experienced and/or observed. From this understanding individualized solutions can be found.

ADHD Coaching

Coaches provide education, teach proven strategies, utilize evidence based behavioral techniques, provide clear and consistent feedback, establish clear expectations and goals, break tasks down to parts, utilize cognitive strategies (ie self talk and thinking strategies), and develop appropriate environmental modifications. A coach establish daily behaviors which allow an individual to maintain persistence and motivation towards long term future goals, allowing hopes and dreams to become a reality.

ADHD Coaching is available online, by phone , and in-person by Jay B. Gordon, Ph.D. Neuropsychologist and staff ADHD Coaching Psychologists.