As expected, the recent piece in the NY Times Ritalin Gone Wrong, has led to mostly negative commentary from people who read the article as though the professor is attacking the biological case for ADHD and parents. He does claim that since the evidence does not support the long-term efficacy of Ritalin and stimulants for [...]
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In an opinion piece in the NY Times, Dr. Alan Sroufe, a psychologist and professor Ameritus from The University of Minnesota argues that we must reduce our reliance on medicating children with stimulants because there are no studies that indicate these medications have any long-term benefits. This is sure to create unrest and unease within [...]
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A Specialists’ Debate on Autism Has Many Worried Observers A debate among medical professionals over how to define autism has spilled over into the public domain, stirring anger and fear among many parents and advocates of those with the neurological disorder, even as some argue that the diagnosis has been too loosely applied. Personally, I’m [...]
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Despite the compelling and alarming statistics on the impact Learning Disabilities (LD) has on the mental health of our youth, there remains a great need to better understand the relationships between language-based LDs, Autism Spectrum, and depression, substance abuse, and defiance, and low self-esteem. While some in the therapeutic community know that upwards of 60% [...]
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Researchers continue to find that while intensive dietary modifications may help some small sub-groups, kids with ADHD need a overall healthy diet of low processed foods and high on quality proteins, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and quality fats, such as Omega-3.
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Back in November, I’d posted about reported shortages of medications for ADHD, and at the time I hadn’t heard enough about it nor had I heard of anyone who’s actually experienced this, so I wasn’t sure what to make of it. A couple of days ago, The New York Times reported further on these medication [...]
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The lecture is one of the oldest forms of education there is. … lecturing has never been an effective teaching technique and now that information is everywhere, some say it’s a waste of time. Indeed, physicists have the data to prove it. Many of us, me for example, have known this about lecturing for a [...]
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I’ve felt for years that teenagers and young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome or with High Functioning Autism really need help understanding and negotiating romantic and sexual relationships. Moving from Social Skills or even Social Thinking curriculums (there’s a difference) to dating, sex, love and adult relationships is no easy task when your primary difficulties are [...]
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I haven’t seen or heard of this happening in the northwest, where I live, but this is potentially very concerning for lots of folks, especially if it spreads and gets worse. NPR did a story about this emerging shortage of ADHD meds, characterizing it as being part of a nationwide and increasing shortage of other [...]
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“The American Academy of Pediatrics this week issued new guidelines urging doctors to begin looking for signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD – in children as young as four years old. Before, the guidelines had set the minimum age at 6 years old.” These new guidelines, discussed here on NPR’s On Point Radio [...]
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Too often we as educators and parents, get hyper-focused on the things our/your kids can’t do or struggle with. Even with the best of intentions, adults lose perspective. We run the risk of trying so hard, too hard, to squeeze children with learning disabilities into the mold of what we want for our kids in [...]
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Pretty amazing to see just how wrong an attempt at incentivizing success in student performance can go. From Good.is A couple of Orange County California schools came up with a poorly thought out concept to reward students who performed better on high stakes tests. “High-performing students received black cards, the ones in the middle got [...]
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