Child ADHD Info ~ Raising a Child with ADHD

Need your help TODAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Mon, 2 Mar 2015 12:02:00 -0500

NEED YOUR HELP ASAP!! I'm so sorry...I feel like such an a**!! I had both my girls fundraisers to do....well Kieras (to pay for her field trip) is due today, if you or anyone family, at work etc....would like to order ASAP today....I dunno if it has to be like before 2-3pm but just go to:

yankeecandlefundraising.com

On the left of the screen it will say "start shopping" there you enter

Group #: 990059887

Seller ID: Kiera16

If any in orders please let me know so I can make sure she got/gets the sale credits. (She needs to sell 3 large jar candles to pay for her field trip) Thanks you for your help!!

October is ADHD Awareness Month!!

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 15:06:00 -0400

Hey there readers!! Did you know that October is the official ADHD Awareness month? So, I am going to tell you a few facts about ADHD to spread the awareness....

Fact#1~ The ADHD Awareness ribbon is purple (see right) although there are some that are orange.

Fact#2~ ADHD was first recognized as a disorder in 1902 by a Dr. Still from Britain and was given it's first name by him which was "Defect of Moral Control". (Find more on the history of ADHD by clicking here)

Fact#3~ In 1997 the American Medical Association stated that ADHD was one of the most researched disorders.

Fact#4~ ADHD Affects more than 15 million people just in America alone!!

If you would like to get a ribbon to support ADHD Awareness, or anything pictured in this post, you can look through the products at the Child ADHD Store through Amazon here. The items are all hand picked by me and the awareness products range from mouse pads, coffee mugs, socks, rings bracelets and more!!

Let's Support and spread the Awareness of this disorder!! ADHD IS real and millions of children and adults suffer with it every day!! If we can raise the awareness maybe we can find out more and help those who struggle every day with it. :)

Thanks for reading!
~SOverly

What is Melatonin & Does it Really Work?

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 17:18:00 -0400

If you have a child with ADHD or have it as an adult, I'm sure one time or another you have heard someone mention using melatonin to help with problems sleeping. But, some questions probably go through your mind like: What is melatonin? How does it work? Is it safe to use? Etc. Well, here are answers to some/most of the questions you may have, as I did too.

What is Melatonin??

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland, which is a small gland in the brain. Our melatonin levels are what controls or sleep and wake cycles. It has also been known as the "hormone of darkness" because it's levels are highest at night, when it's dark. When our bodies produces more we get tired and sleep and when there are lower levels we wake up.

How does Melatonin control sleeping and waking??

You see, our bodies all have their own internal clock which tells us when to sleep and when to wake up. Often, when on a schedule (like our kids' school times or our work schedule), our bodies will still get tired and awake around the same times on our days off without even having our alarms and bed times. This is our internal clock working. To do this, it controls how much melatonin our body makes. Generally, our melatonin levels will start to rise in the mid-late evening, remaining high throughout the night and dropping early in the morning causing us to wake. Our body uses light to help us with when to produce more melatonin. By using the sunlight, when the sun begins to set, our body starts producing melatonin and continues to while it is dark. When the sun begins to rise our body naturally lowers the levels of melatonin and no longer produces it as much.

Does Melatonin help with ADHD??

Though melatonin has no known effectiveness on ADHD symptoms, some research does show that it may offer benefits to ADHD children who take stimulants. Children and adults with ADHD will often also have issues with sleeping like bad sleeping habits and troubles falling asleep. Studies have noted an improvement in sleep problems including falling asleep quicker as well as waking less through the night in those taking melatonin as a sleep aid.

Using Melatonin for sleep...

My Kaylee (5yr) sleeping with Wolfie

Since it is our bodies natural sleep aid, it's no wonder that those having troubles sleeping turn to OTC (over-the-counter) melatonin supplements for help. Actually, I found a Spanish study in which concluded melatonin to be better at getting people to sleep than other sleep aid medications. Taking 1/2-1 hour before bed has been said to help fall asleep and stay asleep. Some parents swear by using melatonin for their ADHD child's sleeping. You can find melatonin in tablet, chewable and liquid form, so getting one that is comfortable for your child to take is easier.

Is OTC "over-the-counter" Melatonin Safe??

Naturally, I always suggest talking to your doctor before taking any new medicine and to see if melatonin may be right for you or your child's sleeping problems. In most cases however, melatonin supplements are safe to use in low doses and for short term usage. Remember, you don't want to give your body too much of anything, even if it is natural.

Does Melatonin have any Side Effects??

Yes, as with just about any medicine/supplement, melatonin does have some possible side effects. Possible side effects with melatonin include morning grogginess, daytime sleepiness, confusion, sleep walking, headaches, vivid dreams and abdominal discomfort. Always monitor your child for any possible side effects when trying something new.

Where can I buy it??

Since melatonin is an OTC medication, you can usually get it at most pharmacies in your area. You can also order it online right at our Child ADHD Store through Amazon by clicking here.

Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment with any additional questions as well as any experiences you have had with using melatonin below!!

Until next time!
~SOverly

Dillon's Medication Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Wed, 4 Sep 2013 20:51:00 -0400

Dillon taking his medicine

My last post was about medication "vacations", what they are and how/why parents do and like them. So, after doing my research on these, I talked to my husband about what his thoughts were on doing something like this for my son Dillon....

Before I get ahead of myself here, I want to give you a little background on Dillon, his ADHD and his medicine. Dillon has been on this medication for his ADHD since 2nd grade (now going into 8th). His medication dosages have pretty much stayed the same until last year. Since he has been having such growth spurts, puberty and being on the same medication/dosage for such a long time, we had to up his dosage twice last year.
My husband and I didn't like that, especially since at this point the dosages are jumping much higher to the next dose. Dillon started on 18mg of Concerta once daily, he is now up to 36mg 1x daily!! The next dosage would take him up to 54mg. Yes, in case you were wondering, he went from 18mg to 36mg in just two increases (Concerta is 18, 27, 36, 54).

Well, since Dill is only 14, we know that he will grow more over the next few years and, as any parent would, want him on the lowest possible dosage that will work with his ADHD symptoms. Due to this and after researching the "medication vacations" I have been talking about, we started discussing doing this for Dillon over the summer. Our reason for the break is to lower Dill's tolerence to the Concerta that he has built up over the past few years so that the dosage would, hopefully, work better for him and his ADHD without having to increase again.

Dill and Dad Dogg :)

So, after discussing it with my husband we, of course, spoke to my sons doctor. He was able to confirm that this type if "break" was able to be done with the medication and dosage for Dillon. And so, we decided to take him off if his Concerta for the summer and up until 2 weeks before school, which would give his body time to adjust to the medication again. Dill agreed that he too wanted to try this, I think partially because the medicine wasn't helping as much and partially because the pills kept getting bigger!

Throughout the summer, Dillon did very well given the fact that there is much less demand in the summer. He has been impulsive for his age, but not to a dramatic extent. My husband and I could notice the difference even though is wasn't a huge one. We did notice he was more unable to listen to and follow instructions, almost like he was just plain out ignoring us at times. He would also have bursts of energy where he would act extra "silly" at times and was often staying up all night in his room saying he was "unable to sleep". However, with it being during the summer these symptoms weren't very disruptive as they would be had he been in school at the time. All in all I feel that Dillon did a really good job controlling himself and his ADHD without his meds this summer, but, it was also obvious that he would definitely need his medication again for the school year to come in order to do well with the demands of the 8th grade.

Camping fun this summer!

I took this time off of his medication to not only to hopefully help his dosage work better without yet another increase, but to also assess the need for medication at this time in my sons life. As I have mentioned before, puberty has a ton of affects on our children as well as their ADHD and I wanted to at least see how Dillon would do while not on medicine and am really glad I did. This experience has not only helped me to better understand where Dillon is at this point with his ADHD but I think it also got him in more tune with his ADHD as well.

At this point, Dillon has been taking his Concerta again for about 2 weeks now. This really and honestly is not enough to really give you all a true review of how things are going to be, but I will be definitely posting updates for you all to read.

So far, by day 3 of being on his medicine again, Dillon didn't really seem to show any difference in his actions or behaviors. By day 6 though, his sleep habits were improving from the summer habits he had been on of "not being able" to sleep, according to him. I was of course making him go to bed earlier (9-9:30) to try to get him to sleep at a decent hour but he would still stay up in his room, even in the dark with nothing to do. Now, since being medicated, he has been falling asleep earlier and more easily. By day 10 he had started school again and it was becoming easier to get him to pay attention and listen and follow directions.

That's about all I can tell you right now, I hope this article helps some and I will for surely be posting an update article to further explain how he is doing in school and if the "medication vacation" has made a difference in him in school since last years struggles.

Thanks for reading!!!

~SOverly

*To learn more about ADHD check out this Ebook, click here

ADHD Medication Holiday-What are they?

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:39:00 -0400

I had asked a question on our Facebook Page the other day, it asked parents their opinions and personal experience regarding having what is called "medication holidays". I received a lot of great opinions, stories, and more from the wonderful members to our page. I will share more on that, but let me first explain what I have learned about these medication holidays....

What are Medication Holidays?

A medication holiday, also called drug holiday, drug vacation, medication vacation, structured treatment interruption, or strategic treatment interruption, is when a patient stops taking their medication(s) for a period of time. The period of time could be a couple days, weeks, months or years depending on the patient.

When do patients/kids have Medication Holidays?

Usually when a parent chooses to give their child a break in medication is it on the weekends (one or both days), during holiday vacations from school and during the summer months.

Most parents that do a vacation from meds do them on the weekends, some just during the school year and others will do every weekend all year round. Some just do one day and some do both every weekend. Others will have them off theirs medicines on the weekend unless they are going somewhere or doing something that makes the parent feel they should take their medicine.

Usually the parents that do weekends without meds will also let their child without them on holiday vacations from school such as Spring and Christmas/Winter breaks.

Many people also stop medication all summer long. This means that they choose to not have any medications for the entire summer. Others will do it for the majority of the summer

and have the child take their meds for special events and outings.

Can Your Child have Med Vacations with His/Her ADHD Medication?

500,000+ children age 6-12 (in the US) take non-stimulant medication for ADHD such as Strattera, Intuniv, and Kapvay. Dr. Mark Wolraich, MD, an Oklahoma City pediatrician says, these non stimulants take longer to work and much longer to leave the body and should not be stopped. Wolraich also says about taking a medication break, if a child is taking a non-stimulant medicines, "You could do it over the summer, but not over the weekend".

Around 3.5 million children with ADHD take a stimulant medications like Concerta, Ritalin, Adderall etc. These medicines act much more quickly and leave the body much quicker too, so there's no withdraw worries or having to wean off the medicine.

Dr. Wolraich says, "On those meds, (stimulants) it's important to realize the treatments improve behavior and reduce symptoms" he continued, "If you stop taking them, you revert to behaviors you saw before, stimulant medications don't build up in the bloodstream. That's why you can stop and start them."

Why have a medication holiday?

Through both my research as well as parents' input, I found that there are some really interesting reasons that parents will choose to give their ADHD child these holidays from their medicines. Although there are those very judgmental people out there that say these holidays are ridiculous, after reading different articles and seeing/hearing what parents had to say, I think there are a lot whose reasoning for implementing medication holidays not only make some sense but also show how much the parents want to help the child to live with and manage his/her ADHD in any situation and with or without medicine. Some of these include:

Decrease the Tolerance Effect.... As many of you know, when taking a medication over a

long period of time you gain a tolerance to the medicine. Well, some parents will choose to give their son/daughter one or all of the above holidays frome their meds to try to keep their tolerance low so they won't need to increase as often.

Regain Effectiveness.... Parents will also do medicine breaks to keep the medication as effective with the child's ADHD symptoms. This kind of goes hand in hand with the reason above.

Help with Weight Gain/Loss Issues... There are many cases with ADHD medications, especially with stimulants, in children can curb their appetite causing weight loss or they can also gain access weight. In these cases, parents will choose to take breaks from the medication to help the child's appetite to help with these types of weight issues. I had a woman comment on our Facebook page and she said that her son will eat like crazy when he hasn't taken his medicine, but when he is on it he barely eats and so the breaks help him be able to eat better and be healthier.

See if the Medication/Dosage is Still Needed... Doctors and parents will take the child off his/her ADHD medication for a period of time, usually throughout the summer months, to see if the medicine is still needed and if the same dosage should be used or changed. This is something usually done when the child is on a lower dosage or is showing signs of no longer needing medicine. If the child is showing signs of needing a possible increase the doctor will prescribe a higher dosage for a couple weeks and check up to see if it has helped.

Deacrease Short/Long Term Side Effects.... Many parents are fearful of the lone term effects and even the immediate side effects of their child being on these ADHD medications. Therefore, they will take their child off their medicines for weekends/summer months so they can try to decrease these effects on their children. Although there are no real good studies showing any bad effects from long or short term use of these meds, I can surely understand the scare.

These are the main reasons that parents of children with ADHD will give their child Medication Holidays. There are some parents that will do it just because they feel bad their son/daughter has to take medicine everyday and want to give them a break.

I even had a couple parents that will take their child off medicine for the summer so they can work with them through counseling and therapy to help him/her cope with their ADHD and manage it better without meds. I think that is a great idea, if able to be done of course, because the more your child can manage his/her ADHD impulses, attention and focus on their own, the less medicine they may have to be on and the less academic support they may need the next year, and/or their medicine may work better because they are working with the medicine a little more.

Should Your Child Get Drug Vacations?

Every situation, child and family is different. Therefore, I can't really tell you whether or not it is a good or bad idea to try a medication holiday on your child. My opinion however, is that it all really depends on the child and his/her particular needs, and to always talk to your child's doctor before proceeding with any interruption in your son/daughters medicines. He/she will be able to guide you to the best possible options for your child's individual needs.

I hope this answers some of your questions on what medication holidays are and why they exist. I will be writing more on this as I find out more. As always, thanks for reading!!

~Stacy

Resources- Dr. Mark Wolraich, WebMD, Child ADHD Info on Facebook, Parents of ADHD children.

Hotel and Beach Supplies for Summer

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 14:37:00 -0400

If you have a hotel, restaurant, resort or just want to get some cute furniture for your small business, you should check out this neat place called PeachSuite Hotel Supply. It's an online store that has al different types of products for any type of business such as dining, concession, bar, banquet, catering and more hotel supplies online. For summer they have patio furniture, poolside tables, chairs, umbrellas etc.

The PeachSuite Hotel Supply is also a hotel amenities supplier. Here they have things like tissues, mini deodorants/shampoos, coffee packets, pens, toilet paper and much more!!

Like I said, I know it says it's a hotel supplier but, you can use some of these items for any business!! I mean, even a doctors office needs tissues, toilet paper and pens!! So, check it out and see if there is anything that fits your business needs!

*This has been a paid post.

An Amazing Brave Woman!

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Fri, 8 Feb 2013 13:54:00 -0500

Though this is not what my blog is about, I wanted to share this amazing and brave woman's story, which also somewhat explains my absence to the blog lately. I think this is a very important subject today and that her story should be shared....

My husbands grandmother, Peggy Bell, has been fighting multiple types of cancers for more than 20 years. She has so very bravely fought and beat leukaemia, breast cancer and lung cancer twice!! At the beginning of 2012 she was told she had spinal cancer which they found because she kept fracturing her spine.

Henrietta "Peggy" Bell (Bubba) and Kaylee..Aug. 2012

After she so bravely went through yet another round of chemotherapy, she was getting dizzy and was seeing doubles, she had mentioned this to me at my sister-in-laws baby shower (picture on right). The doctor had told her it was probably from the cancer treatments and medications she was taking. It began to get worse and so she went to her doctor again, and they found that she had brain cancer.

Like the amazingly strong woman she is, she kept fighting this terrible illness and went through more radiation and chemo until her body just couldn't take anymore. Her blood cell count was too low and so they had her take a break in treatment to see if it was working as well as let her body recoup.

We were waiting for the test results and Gram ended up in the hospital with constipation which we thought was just from her medicines. Yet, we come to find out she now had colon cancer too!

She asked to be sent home. Gram told us all that she was waiting for her newest great grand baby to be born. My husbands sister, Julie, delivered her baby Audrey on November 29, 2012. Gram Skyped and saw the baby the following night and the next morning passed away taking her last breathes with her wonderful husband Kenny by her side along with her daughters Sandy (my husbands mother) and Lynette.

Henrietta "Peggy" Bell was a wonderful wife, mother to two, grandmother to two including my husband and a great grandmother to 4, which includes my 3 who knew her as "Bubba", who lived a pretty amazing life. She also had a life long friend that she would want me to mention, Carol, whom she worked with at the hospital. They stayed best friends until the very end.

She was a nurse, in fact one of three nurses that ran what is now Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. Peggy did her job well, so well that she is still remembered there by the current workers.

When Gram wanted something done, she went and did it 100%. Like when she wanted to marry her husband of 52 years, he was in the military and was notified that he was going on leave to get married and was sent home. Peggy arranged the whole thing!!

She told you how she felt no matter how it made her sound. She was true and straight forward, never giving you anything but herself.

Peggy wasn't selfish. She had a huge heart and would do anything for not only the people she loved, but would help anyone she could. Gram volunteered at the Leukaemia Foundation, not just as a donation either, she gave her time and energy to help those going through such a terrifying struggle. She did this before she was ever diagnosed with any type of cancer. Among this, she always volunteered at her church and other organizations too.

My husband Nathan and his sister Julie were very close to their grandparents. Our daughter Kaylee was especially close to her Bubba. Kay was with her a lot when she was a baby all the way up until September last year she would go over and spend the day with them.

Last, I would like say that Peggy Bell is the strongest, bravest, motivated and kind hearted person I have ever had the pleasure to meet let alone be a part of her family. She went through so much and yet no matter what she kept fighting, no matter the toll it took on her. I am proud to be able to say that I knew her and we will al miss her so very much.

I am glad that Peggy's fight is over and that she is finally able to rest. But, I am also mad that after all the battles she had won, cancer is what took her in the end. Rest in Peace Gram.

Thanks for reading!!!
~S.Overly

Child ADHD won the Liebster Award!!

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:04:00 -0400

I don't know if I mentioned, but back in June I received a post from one of my followers, Dr. Momsie. She had given Child ADHD Info her Liebster Blog Award and it was a great honor! She also included a link to the page where she wrote a little about the 5 blogs she gave the award to. She had actually looked into me pretty well and here is what she had to say about me and Child ADHD Info:

"Next awesome blog, Child ADHD Info- Raising a Child with ADHD. As a psychologist, I can't resist sharing this blog. The author, Stacy, is a mother of a child with ADHD and has worked in psychology, and she has definitely done her research. If you have a child with ADHD or are concerned your child might have ADHD, you've got to check out this blog!"

This review was a very proud moment for Child ADHD and myself, especially coming from a psychologist!! So, I wanted to take this time to again thank Dr. Momsie for this wonderful review and award! Feel free to check out her wonderful blog here.

Child ADHD Info's Newsletter 9/4//12

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Tue, 4 Sep 2012 11:24:00 -0400

Child ADHD Info's Newsletter is out!! With a heart warming and inspiring ADHD success story you CAN'T miss! Read it now by clicking here or by going directly to http://eepurl.com/o4AGf

Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to get all the Child ADHD Info news first! Just enter your email at the right of the page under "Signup for Child ADHD Info's Newsletter" and click subscribe :)

Social Security Benefits For ADHD Children

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Mon, 3 Sep 2012 19:58:00 -0400

Many disabled Americans receive Social Security benefits or SSI. All types of different disabilities both mental and physical can qualify for these benefits, as long as the meet the Social Security Administrations (SSA) guidelines for receiving them. These benefits include income of up to $500/monthly as well as possible medicaid. Someone told me that you can receive these benefits for a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). So, I started to wonder if this was true, looked into it and found some interesting information...

After looking into different articles as well as SSA policies and guidelines, I found that it is indeed possible to be eligible for and receive Social Security benefits for your ADHD child. Is it easy to get these benefits? No not really though its used to be much easier.

Can I receive SSI benefits for my ADHD child?

Up until 1996,ADHD and other such conditions were in a Social Security regulations category called the "Listing of Impairments". In this section benefits were automatically granted if the parent(s) could provide adequate documentation from the child's medical/psychological provider confirming the child's diagnose(s). There fore, it was fairly easy to start receiving SSI benefits for your ADHD child. However, in August of 1996 that changed when "The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act" (PRWORA) was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

The signing of PRWORA

Since the PRWORA came into law these maladaptive behavior categories have been eliminated, which mainly consisted of emotional/educational disabilities including ADHD. This means that the PRWORA of 1996 prevents children with ADHD as their only disability from automatically qualifying for SSI benefits. Though this doesn't mean that your ADHD child won't be eligible for benefits, it means that the ADHD needs to be severe and limiting.

To receive SSI benefits for your ADHD child he/she must have all three ADHD symptoms that are severe (you can read about these in my article The Three Subtypes of ADHD). These symptoms include severe inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. The child's symptoms also must cause them limitations due to their ADHD. There are actually two set of conditions to receive SSI benefits from ADHD.

Children ages 3-18: The child must have severe difficulty or limitations compared to other kids their age in at least two basic areas. Which means the child's ADHD severely affects his/her capability to socialize, learn, develop, play or engage in everyday activities that's age appropriate. This is determined without any consideration for special structure or support, meaning they consider how the child would behave/function in a typical class without help.
You also have to provide documents from professionals to support the severity of he child's ADHD. Any of the following documents would be acceptable:

A medical diagnosis from a Doctor or Psychiatrist
Treatment plans or notes written by a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist/counselor
Current and history information from parents and teachers including teacher reports/evaluations.
Standardized testing, achievement testing, or IQ test results.

Children under 3: Children this young have an extremely small chance to be approved due to their ADHD, though the requirements are relatively the same.

How can I file and how much will I get?

I believe you can receive payments for up to $500 monthly for your child. However, it all depends on the determination of your child's disability and needs.

As for filing, you can apply online at the Social Security website by clicking here or by calling 1-800-771-1213. You'll need to fill out a medical and functional history about your child. They will also require each of your child's medical and psychological professionals including counseling, speech services etc names, address and visit dates for the past year, medical records and test results, treatment records/plans, treatments and anything else pertaining to his/her health, and a complete copy of the child's school records including IEP, assesments and testing results. (Please keep copies of anything and everything you send to the Social Security Administration because they often tend to lose things easily.

Are there any income limits?

SSI has strict income/assets limits and the parents income will be counted partially towards the child's income limit. Also, older children of working age can not earn more than $1,010 monthly from working.

What if we get denied?

To be honest pretty much everyone who applies for Social Security benefits gets denied at first. It is weird but true for some reason, but not always.If you do get denied you can request a reconsideration or second opinion where a new team will review your child's case, during which they will want to see and speak with your child. They will then have a formal meeting at which you may or may not need to attend.

So we found out that you can indeed file or Social Security benefits for your ADHD child and that it is possible to get approved and receive benefits. Now, as parents, families or friends of an ADHD child I'd like to know what you think so give us your opinion below...Do you think parents should be able to receive SSI for their ADHD child(ren)? Do you agree that approval should depend on the severity of their ADHD symptoms?

For more on receiving SSI benefits for your ADHD child you can visit the Social Security Administration website.

Back to School with ADHD

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:25:00 -0400

Well, we have officially started a new school year and is it me, or did the summer months just fly by? It feels to me like the summer vacation just started last month! Before we know it Christmas will be here.

The beginning of a new school year is hard for any parent with school let alone parents of children with ADHD. In the first month of school parents have pictures, new schedules, fundraisers start and that's just some of the things we have going on. Having an ADHD child includes meeting new teachers, going to IEP/Support meetings, organizing your child with the new schedule, and the fights over homework. This can be a very frustrating time for the parents as well as the child. Most of the time, the same things that are stressful for us are also for your child.

In my experience, this is one of the most stressful and frustrating times during the school year for your ADHD child. And though I know it can be very hard at times, we have to remember this. He/she is trying to get back into a bedtime and morning routine, sitting for longer periods, organizing, remembering/completing/turning in homework/assignments, and controlling his/her behaviors more. They are doing all this after a long vacation and more relaxed three months away from all these demands.

To make this time the least frustrating as possible I have found an easy way to help both you and your child. Organizing your child to fit his/her needs is an important key tool to help relieve a lot of unnecessary arguments or stress. Try organizing your son/daughters binder folders ( I suggest using plastic folders) by their schedule, put their folders in their binder by subject (having a separate folder for each subject) and in the order they have each class (you can even get Post It flags/page markers for him/her to move back a folder each class to remember which folder is next). For more tips to help please read the article Success in School.

Another great tool I found to help me as a parent is to email your child's teachers. I email my sons teachers and support teacher(s) at the beginning of each school year after I get his schedule. In these emails I introduce myself, let them know anything I feel important about my son (they don't always know what you may want them to), let them know his strengths and weaknesses, ask for a book to keep here for homework, and ask that they please keep in contact and keep me updated on his progress, assignments that are late or long, any issues they may run into. This helps me out by knowing what is going on before he gets way behind (which is usually when they'll notify you), by Dillon knowing I talk to his teachers it keeps him from making excuses, gives the teachers more insight, and so much more!

Oh and I mentioned that I ask for books for at home. This was a wonderful idea that was suggested to me by one of Dill's teachers! By having a book for subjects that he will have homework in, it keeps him from forgetting his book at school or at home. No matter which place he is he has his books.

I hope some of this will help you and your ADHD child's start of the school year run more smoothly. Oh, I forgot the most important thing you need to remember!! You HAVE to take time for yourself too! By taking time to yourself you will be more relaxed and less stressed. You as the parent are important too. Your needs are a priority too. So, anytime your feeling ready to explode, and we all have those moments, take a half hour and read a book, take a bath, watch a show, or anything you may find fun and relaxing. It is amazing what a little "you time" can do for you!!

Don't worry, your not alone. We will get through another school year together! Thanks for reading and feel free to comment :)

Also, please check out the Back to School products at the Child ADHD Info Store

Intuniv For ADHD Children ~ What is Intuniv?

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:01:00 -0400

I have had a few parents asking about Intuniv. Either those who already have their child on Intuniv as well as those thinking about starting their child on it for their ADHD. So, I decided to look into and get all the facts as well as the opinions and experiences of parents with children on Intuniv to see how it works, how it affects ADHD, the different side effects etc. to help my readers better understand the medication, it's uses and any possible issues.This latest research I thought would take a day when it actually has taken me a few days to research it all!

What is Intuniv?

There are many children out there that take stimulant medications like Concerta or Adderall for their Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, Intuniv is a long active non stimulant prescription medication for children with ADHD like Strattera. For those of you that don't know, a non stimulant is not a controlled substance which means it doesn't pose the same concerns of dependency or addiction as stimulants can.

Intuniv is used for and FDA approved for ADHD children ages 6-17. Though it has been known to be prescribed at other ages as well depending on what a doctor recommends is best for their patients' needs. Depending on the child's needs doctors or psychiatrists may prescribe Intuniv alone or in addition to an ADHD stimulant such as Concerta or Adderall depending on the severity of the child's ADHD and what works best for them.

Though I couldn't find a study on Intuniv for ADHD alone, I did find one done on Intuniv when used in conjunction with a stimulant. The 9 week study was done on 455 ADHD children who had been on a stable stimulant dosage for at least 4 weeks with some improvement but still having ADHD symptoms. The children were either given Intuniv or a sugar pill with their normal stimulant dosage daily. Doctors noticed an approximate 30% improvement in the ADHD symptoms of the children who had the Intuniv added to their stimulant compared to those given sugar pills.

How does Intuniv work?

Intuniv has the same active ingredient as some blood pressure medications such as Tenex, which is and has been used for years as an off-label ADHD treatments. Intuniv effects certain receptors in the brain which studies show improve attention, impulse control and memory, reduce easy distractions and aggression.

What are the dosages?

Intuniv is a once daily medication that comes in 4 strength doses which are 1mg, 2mg, 3mg and 4 mg tablets and each tablet looks a little different, which is nice to make sure they are getting the right dosages. Doctors recommend most children to start Intuniv on 1mg and then increase 1mg weekly until they are at the best dosage for them, which is usually 3-4mg. Again each child is different so your doctor my recommend starting your child on a higher dose or increasing the dosages more slowly.

When will Intuniv start working?

I was asked a lot by parents when the Intuniv would start working or when they would start seeing improvement, so i really wanted to research the typical time period where you should start seeing results.

Well, as with any medication, it all depends on the child. It depends on his.her response to Intuniv and their weight as well. However, it could be anywhere from 2-4 weeks to start seeing improvements in his/her ADHD symptoms or even longer sometimes.

Since every child is different and may respond differently to Intuniv, your doctor may find your child's right dose in as early as 2 weeks or even longer. Like I said though, it could take 4 weeks or longer to find the right dose for your child and to start seeing results as well, so be patient.

What are the side effects of Intuniv?

The most common side effects of Intuniv I found are sleepiness, trouble getting up in the morning, trouble sleeping, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness and low blood pressure. The most troublesome side effects parents have mentioned to me have been sleepiness and trouble getting up in the mornings. These will usually decrease or go away as your child's body gets used to the medication but, still let your doctor know about any side effects your child experiences.

I some cases the serious side effects include low blood pressure, low heart rate, fainting and sleepiness.

My Conclusion:

I think that this is a great medication for children with a more mild ADHD, parents who aren't fond of stimulants and ADHD children who's stimulant needs a little help.

I have heard some great reviews from parents that Intuniv has actually helped their child a lot with their attention, impulsive behaviors and aggression. However, a lot of parents have also mentioned the sleepiness it causes or that they have trouble getting their child up in the morning, usually though they say it goes away over time which I think is probably just the child's body getting used to the new medicine. Most have said that when the side effects began to improve so did the ADHD symptoms.

Remember that Intuniv has the active ingredient as blood pressure medicines, so if you are thinking about Intuniv for your son/daughters ADHD make sure you let your doctor know if he/she has any blood pressure or heart issues at all.

If you know anything more on Intuniv you would like to add including you and your child's own experience with the medication please feel free to share through commenting below or you can email me anytime by clicking the Contact Me button on the right of the page.

This post is not a recommendation for this medication, it is simply the conclusion of my personal research on Intuniv and shouldn't replace a doctors advice.

Welcoming My Little Niece~Aliyah!

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:52:00 -0400

So after taking the kids to school this morning my mom called to let me know my brother was having his baby and I was going to be a niece again! I was so excited..I haven't held a baby in soo long and miss it!!

Anyways, I wrote about my experience this morning with my brother having his baby along with some adorable first pics of my little niece Aliyah who was born around 11:30 this morning weighing 7lb 1oz and being 19" long!!

All this labor had me remembering mine and wondering if I should be making an addition to our family sometime soon. But...we'll see about that....

If you want to check out and/read about Aliyah's birth and first pictures you can see it on my Mother and Child blog or by just clicking here.

My Mother and Child blog is about just being a mother to my three children and it's every day life, which kinda goes along with Child ADHD Info. So, please feel free to subscribe to both blogs if you'd like :)

As always, thanks for reading!!

Wonderful Parents/Families of ADHD Children

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Tue, 7 Aug 2012 09:03:00 -0400

So, I was thinking this morning about how wonderful all of Child ADHD Info's followers and supporters are. These ADHD kids are so lucky to have such great parents, families and friends to support and care about them! To take the action and time to read and research their disorder shows how much you all care and how determined you are for your ADHD child to succeed. I hope they all how lucky and loved they truly are.

I was also thinking about how lucky I am to have you all! My readers, followers, fellow ADHD parents and friends on here as well as my Facebook page. It's funny because I started all of this to help, educate and support other parents and families raising ADHD children along with their other life issues, and the truth is I feel like you all support me just as much if not more!! I am so lucky to have such wonderful people to work with :)

Anytime I have had an issue and haven't updated in a few days I always get messages asking how I am or if everything is ok and if I post on here or the Facebook page I always get such thoughtful supportive comments. So, I just wanted to take a minute and thank you all!!

Please continue to comment, share your stories or concerns and spread the word about Child ADHD Info. Don't forget to follow Child ADHD Info on Facebook and Twitter too!!

~ Stacy Overly

Talents of ADHD Children

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Fri, 3 Aug 2012 12:12:00 -0400

ADHD children are talented just like any other child. In fact, there are actually several talents/strengths that have been noted in many ADHD individuals that I have read about in Raising Boys with ADHD and then looked up the statistics. I looked through these statistics and noticed that Dillon has a few of those talents or strengths. Some of the most common talents are:

Creativity

Many ADHD children are very creative or creative thinkers. Kids with ADHD are often said to "think outside the box". My son Dillon has this quality and he will surprise us so much with the way he thinks. If we are watching a mystery movie he will come up with an amazing theory or will think of a neat and creative way to answer a problem, it truly amazes me sometimes! This strength
can be very valuable to your ADHD child and can benefit him/her throughout their life and even career. Being creative/creative thinker can develop into artistry, writing books, an inventor, architecture and so much more!

Perceptive/Intuitive

ADHD children are usually more perceptive and/or intuitive. They will often pick up things that others don't. ADHD kids observe everything! My personal opinion is that sometimes this is because they have a shorter attention span and so kids with ADHD will look around more. Anyway, this talent could lead to police/detective work, paleontologist, private investigator,etc.

Intelligence

ADHD children have also been known to be very intelligent. Some have an overall high intelligence and others are very good at certain subjects. Just because your ADHD child struggles in school it doesn't mean he/she isn't smart enough, it could simply be due to disorganization, short attention or other ADHD symptoms causing him/her top struggle in school. Of course we all know being intelligent, even in certain subjects, can lead to a great future for your son or daughter, such as scientist, teacher, doctor, lawyer and many other wonderful careers!!

Negotiation

Have you ever noticed your ADHD child trying to negotiate their punishment, reward or anything else they may want :) I know my son Dillon definitely has this "talent", which right now is more of a pain in the butt for me haha. But, can also open different opportunities for your child like sales, real estate, lawyer, business and other great paths.

Risk Takers

I'm sure you have noticed, especially if you have more than one kid, that your ADHD child takes more risks than others without ADHD. This is really because of their issues with not thinking before they act. It may be stressful for you as a worried parent now, but as time goes on it can be a wonderful asset to your child. It makes them more willing to take risks that can prove to have a very positive result! Like going to school and trying new things. Taking risks is something not everyone is willing to do, they just have to know what smart risks are and when it is being reckless. Taking a risk could land them they best job, open new doors of opportunity, they may even meet their soul mate taking a risk!

Focus

I know your probably thinking.."focus?? My ADHD struggles with focusing". But, many ADHD kids are able to focus intently on things and subjects that they particularly enjoy and like. I'm sure your ADHD child can sit and focus on a show or video game they love for hours, but if you want them to do homework it's a fight. This is because it is so much easier for them to focus on things they like. Of course this is great for college because they can go for a subject that they are interested in a enjoy! This can also be positive for his/her career too. If they find something they love to do than they will work harder to do it. This is a great strength for sports!!

Speaking of sports, it has also been said that many ADHD children are particularly good at sports. A lot of this is because of their need to move a lot. I don't have to tell you about the many benefits of this strength. Make sure to give your child as many opportunities for sports, clubs and other activities they can get involved in, this will help them discover their talents and the different thing they enjoy doing. It also gives ADHD children a good and positive outlet for their extra energy too.

These are just the most common talents and strengths seen in the majority of ADHD children. I know when I was studying this information it all made so much sense to me because my son actually has most of these qualities in him. It was very exciting to find something I considered very positive for Dillon because so often you hear about how ADHD causes struggles, stress, frustration, and problems. It isn't often that you hear something good and positive that comes from ADHD.

The most important thing and the reason I am writing this post is to let you be able to see what your ADHD child strengths and talents are and be able to help him/her build those strengths into something productive that can help secure their future.

As parents or teachers we tend to focus or dwell on our ADHD children's issues and struggles. We just have to remember that they have some really great qualities and help them discover those talents and build on their strengths. Encourage your son/daughter to find different ways to develop and build on their natural gifts as much as we fight with them about school ;).

Think about it..is your child good at a certain subject like Math? Is he/she good at sports or a certain sport? Does he/she draw a lot? etc..

Find the special qualities in your child and help them acknowledge and work with their gifts. You can play games, do arts and crafts and other things that are a fun way to strengthen his/her natural talents.

Together we can make our children successful ADHD adults!! Thanks you for reading and feel free to comment...tell us if your ADHD child has any of these talents or some of the strengths your child has!

What Is Up with Kids These Days?

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:41:00 -0400

Dill, Dad (Nate) and Kiera building a fort

Ok, so, summer is more than half way over now and wow how quickly the times goes sometimes! But, I found myself thinking...what is it with kids these days? They never want to go outside!! Now, I love technology, it let's me work at home and more but, my kids seem to just want to hang out inside playing with their PS3, PSP, DSi or just watching TV.

When I was young we never wanted to be inside or near our parents! We wanted to play kick ball, climb trees, ride bikes, catch fireflies, build a clubhouse and explore the woods out back. I couldn't imagine just sitting inside all summer! It would've been like a punishment to me and my brothers and sister. WE woke up, got dressed and went outside to plan our fun adventure for the day!

Dill playing PS3

Now, my kids just want to sit inside and play video games,
go on Facebook, and watch TV. They will only play something if my husband and I play with them, and pretty much make them, or when they have friends over. Even when they have friends over though, they want to hang out inside more.

I started wondering again....am I the only parent that feels this way? I decided to ask some of my friends and my kids friends parents about it and I found out that it's not just me! Most parents I talked to agreed that their kids did the same things. I then talked to my husband Nathan about it and he had said that he felt the same way.

Kaylee swimming with the neighbor

Well, the next day Nathan decided to tell the kids around noon that they had a half an hour to hang out in the house and play the video games or on the computer and then they had to go outside and play. To just go in the back yard and find something fun to play/do. The reaction he got was priceless! Dillon, Kiera and Kaylee all looked at him like a was crazy and then looked at me like "is he being serious". They just went outside and sat around saying "there's nothing to do". Nate even built a clubhouse in the top of our two story shed to play in!

Kiera running at GOTR

So, now we've decided to make the kids go outside and play to get out and get some exercise. We give them ideas of things to do and even play things like kick ball with them. Nathan even went out and hung out in the clubhouse with them and guess what they wanted to do in there! Watch a movie on the portable DVD player! Haha But, we are getting there! :)

This story is for those out there feeling the same way, you are NOT alone!! If you feel the same way and/or want to share your styr, thoughts or feelings, feel free to comment!

Still Here!! Family Issues

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 11:17:00 -0400

I want to let my readers know that I am still here and Child ADHD Info will be continuing to update regularly again starting today!! I had a few family issues to attend to and apologize for my absence, but the weekly newsletters will start going out on time again and the blog will be updated as well. I thank all of my readers for staying with me and continuing to support Child ADHD Info!! I am so lucky to have such great readers and supporters! <3

It has been tough here to say the least and I am sure a lot of you know what I mean by that. Some of you already know that our family has dealt with many tragic deaths this past year and a half, and by many I mean the most recent making it 6 close people that have passed away.

Anyways, I took some time off to gather myself and my family and I realize that I should have been updating and letting you all know what was going on. To tell the truth though, I really wasn't thinking about what I should be doing and more so of just going day by day.

On a happier note, I have gotten a lot together and am back. I have also learned that my Facebook page and blogs aren't just a place for the information and support for others, but that you are all wonderful support to me!! I am so glad to have such wonderful followers/readers and hope that Child ADHD will continue to grow!

Thank you all so much!

Jungian Psychotherapy

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:01:00 -0400

So, I have been told about a type of psychotherapy called Jungian Analysis and so I found it interesting to write about. I would personally say that I feel this form of psychotherapy would be more beneficial for adults, so this post is more for the parents or adults with ADHD readers.

This type of therapy is interesting to me because it is based more on the unconscious state such as through your dreams. From what I've read, even those who don't remember their dreams will often start to remember them when they start these therapy sessions. This is a therapy for all kinds of issues such as relationship, stress and other personal and professional problems and is based on a more spiritual level.

You may know the belief that dreams stand for something, well this is a type of psychotherapy to help you find what that "something" is they stand for. I know a lot of people who will have reoccurring dreams and I do believe that it can be based on something that may be stressing or bothering them. Well, according to what I have seen, during an jungian analysis it addresses your problems by a spiritual approach and it's not even always that you have to have a reoccurring dream or anything. If you are having any issues and believe it is worth a try to help, than finding a jungian therapist may be a great place to start. Honestly, I'm not sure that it is a therapy for everyone, you need to be willing to talk about your dreams and have the want to participate as with any therapy, but, I also personally think it would at the very least be an interesting and possibly rewarding experience.

If you are interested and/or would like to know more about Jungian Psychotherapy you can read more here. Anyways, this was just a new therapy I have been learning a little about and wanted to share, if you would like to know more you can also click the "Contact Me" button on the right and email anytime or leave a comment!

ADHD and Siblings

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Fri, 6 Jul 2012 21:42:00 -0400

Kiera and Dillon

Like any family, my kids will fight like crazy sometimes. My oldest two, Dillon and Kiera, are the worst fighters though, which I think is because they are closest in age (2 yrs apart). But, as they got older, I started to notice some jealousy developing in Kiera towards Dillon. This was because Dill got more "attention" due to his ADHD. Does this ring a bell to any of you?

You see, Kiera is the complete opposite of Dillon. She is an honor role student, very motivated and strives to do everything perfect whereas Dillon struggles more in these areas. Now don't get me wrong, Kiera gets a lot of attention and praise for all of her hard work and achievements, but, she also doesn't need much help with homework or have doctors and counseling appointments, school meetings and behavioral issues. It's hard to impossible to give all of your children the exact same attention, especially when you have a child with special needs. Every child is different, while some require more help and assistance, others are more independent.

Kiera and Dillon

I found that one of the best things you can do is to talk to all your children and teach them about ADHD and to understand your ADHD child's needs and struggles as much as possible. There are actually even children's books about ADHD that you can read with your children to better understand ADHD that I found to be wonderful for all the kids to learn about and understand ADHD, even Dillon. You can find some great ones at my Child ADHD Store. I feel the more all the kids are aware of and understand ADHD and it's challenges the more supportive they will be of their ADHD sibling.

Dillon, me and Kiera

It is so hard to split your time up evenly among all your kids all the time, especially when one is independent with homework while you're fighting half the night with your ADHD child. Even though we may be arguing or struggling with our ADHD child and it may be considered a more "negative" attention, it still can make others jealous of the attention.

The most important thing you can do though is to make sure all your kids know how much you love them and that they are all important and special to you! I have been looking into more ways to help with siblings of ADHD kids and will be posting a list shortly.

Do You Want to Share Your Story?

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 10:44:00 -0400

We would like anyone who would like to share their story of their child with ADHD to submit their story. It can be about how you became concerned about your child having ADHD, how your child was diagnosed and the process you went through or are going through, the struggles you go through, school, what works for you, success, concerns etc.

Child ADHD Info my feature it either here on the site or in our weekly newsletter. It is nice to share your story and to hear others and just to know "Hey I;m not the only one"!

If you are interested in sharing your experience/story you can email it directly to childadhdinfo@gmail.com. You can send your story along with where you would like it to be featured (here or in the newsletter) and you can a picture of your child or family too if you want. Please do not leave your story in a comment post.

I was so excited to be expanding our reach to help as many parents with ADHD children with our newsletter and thought of this and just loved the idea so I hope you all do too and we get some good submissions and results!!

I look forward to hearing from you!!

~Stacy~

Child ADHD Info's 1st Newsletter is Out!!

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 10:26:00 -0400

Good morning to all my readers!! I am so excited to announce that Child ADHD Info has just put out our first newsletter! You can view it by clicking here. This may not seem like a big deal, but, it really is for me. This is a great new things I can offer parents. I decided to create a newsletter for parents that can't always read my blog posts and keep up with the articles.

Child ADHD's newsletter will have articles, stories, facts, tips and hints for the week that are all about ADHD and child ADHD. However, this first newsletter was smaller and more of an introductory to the weekly newsletter. The articles will be shorter and may link to an article on the blog.

I am so glad that we have reached enough readers and fans to help to be able to have finally been able to offer this new tool and updates for parents! Like I said I am so excited!!

If you did not subscribe for Child ADHD's newsletter, you will not receive one and will have to view it at the link. To subscribe simply enter your email and name on the right of this page and you will start receiving our newsletter weekly with everyone else, or you can go to the newsletters link and click the subscribe button at the top of the page and enter your information. I look forward to adding you to the Newsletter list!! :)

Check out the Child ADHD Newsletter and subscribe now! And as always feel free to give us your feedback, you can even comment on the newsletter!

*Child ADHD Info will be the only one with access to your information upon submission of your subscription. We respect your privacy and will not give out ANY of your information including but not limited to name and email.

Child ADHD Info's Absence

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:07:00 -0400

I want to take a minute to first apologize for our site being down Sunday, June 17 for 19 hours. It was an awful inconvenience for us all.

It seems that my blog was hacked into and messed with, which in turn alerted Google's spam bots and they temporarily deleted it. So, i had to file and appeal with Google and I also wrote them an email. They reviewed my blog in person and apologized for the mistake and put Child ADHD Info back online right away, though it did take all day to happen.

I was so confused when I first logged in to write a post on Sunday, June 17. First, my account had me do a two step verification to log in and then came up with a message saying that there was unusual activity on my account. Then, after finally logging in I found that this blog had been deleted. I was so upset, not only for myself and all the work and research I had put into the site and it's content, but for all my readers and followers that use it for help and support with their ADHD children.

The main reasons I am writing this post is one, to let you all know that Child ADHD Info is still here to help will continue to post. And two, to let any other bloggers out there that may read this know that it is so important to make sure that their site or blog is protected as much as possible from being messed with too. Finally, I want to let all of you reading this post know all the measures I have taken to make sure that it doesn't happen again as well as to assure you all that if you join or subscribe to Child ADHD and any information that you put on here will be safe and no one else will have access to ant of the information you submit here.

Protect Your Blogs!!!

The first step I took was to notify my host that this happened so they can take action on their part in security. I then changed my account around to where I can only log in from my computer with just my password (which I changed) and if any other computer tries to log on they will need a code to enter and get access, the code will be sent to my personal cell phone and will deny access without it. Also, i will be sent an email for any log in attempts.

So, I just wanted to let everyone know what happened that day and to assure you that we will be here and you are safe visiting and interacting with our site and features like commenting, the forum, newsletter sign up etc.

It is truly a shame that people don't have anything better to do then mess with sites and blogs out there to help others.

Mentoring Minds ADD/ADHD Wheel

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:44:00 -0400

I know it is summer and most parents aren't thinking about school next year yet, mainly because summer has just begun! However, that is yet another luxury that most parents with an ADHD child doesn't have. We spend a lot of our summer thinking of ways to help and get our child ready and ahead for the next school year.

So many parents with ADHD children are talking to the school and putting the team for the coming school year together and lots have meetings with the school "team" as early as this month to try to come up with new teaching strategies and ways for your child to succeed!
It is so funny because people that don't understand or don't believe in ADHD are often heard saying that it's excuse for the parent to be "lazy" or that the child is just a "brat", when really they do more parenting and work than most other parents!! In fact, I bet you all have a better relationship with the teachers when other parents hardly remember their child's homeroom teachers name. If your anything like me your on a first name basis with all your child's teachers each year.

Anyways, when you are trying to prepare for next year keep in mind about this website/store called Mentoring Minds and bring it up to the teachers in your meeting. I have checked it out myself and found they have a product called the ADD/ADHD Wheel, which they have made as a resource to parents, teachers and specialists to assist them in making decisions together to help the ADHD child be successful in school. The wheel has strategies for teaching and I think would be a helpful tool for all schools to have!

Approximately 2 million children in the US alone have been diagnosed with ADHD and 3-5% of the student population has ADHD. 1 in every 25-30 children have ADHD. The ADHD wheel was designed to help teachers understand how ADHD affects the child in school and with learning as well as to give them the tools and strategies to help the ADHD child(ren) be successful in school. So, in conclusion, I think this would be great site/store for both schools and parents. It has tools for ADHD as well as individual subject help, behavior and more so it is great and helpful for any student struggling in school and is a wonderful resource for teachers, parents and even specialists! I think we should all bring it up and recommend it to all our schools to better spread the awareness and help for children with ADHD and any other kids that need help in school!

Let us know what you think! Comment and give us you opinion and experiences :)

Child ADHD's New Forum

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:37:00 -0400

Child ADHD has created a Forum for parents, family, friends and anyone else who knows an ADHD child, adult or if you are and ADHD child/adult. It's a great place to interact with other ADHD parents, families and others with ADHD. Using the Child ADHD forum, you can ask questions, tell us your stories, answer questions with your experience, knowledge and opinions. You can even use the forum just to vent, let off steam and let out frustration you are having from all the stressors ADHD can make.

The nice thing I want to let you all know is that the forum doesn't have to be just about ADHD, you can talk about ODD and other coinciding diagnoses, behaviors, bullying, parenting, and so much more.

I have done this to try to expand as well as further give support to parents! I hope you like it, I always love feedback so feel free to give me yours! :)

You can access the Child ADHD forum by clicking the page tab "Child ADHD Forum" at the top of the blog or by going to http://child-adhd-forum.31337.n6.nabble.com/

Brainwave Entrainment for ADHD~ (Isochronic Music)

noreply@blogger.com (S Bronson-Overly) — Sat, 9 Jun 2012 00:17:00 -0400

I have been looking into different types of alternative treatment options for ADHD and came across Isochiral Music. Now, I want to start by saying that there is one for ADHD, but there are also ones for Improving Memory, Speed Learning, Increasing IQ, Stress Management, and more. I have specified these ones because they too can help with managing ADHD and their daily stressors as well as disabilities that can coincide like learning disabilities and forgetfulness.

I'm sure now your asking yourself, how does this isochiral music work? Well, it uses brainwave entrainment. Brainwave Entrainment in short is when you listen to an audio that uses pulses of sound near the same frequency that the brain is operating. The audio brainwave entrainment increases the beta brainwaves giving the brain a "mental workout". It increases the electrical activity and the blood flow to the brain, speeding it up.

So how does this work for ADHD?

Well first I would like to point out that as you may already know, studies have shown us that ADHD have a lower blood flow in the frontal lobes which are where the brain affects your attention and impulse control. So, speeding up the blood flow can help with these symptoms and may help your child be able to have more control over their attention and impulses.

Next, I want to explain a little about the electrical activity in the ADHD brain which research has shown that the most common finding in ADHD individuals is a slow wave patterns that appears in the brains electrical activity. This slow wave activity is more pronounced during tasks like reading and listening and causes the person to "miss" what they have read or what has been said. These slow waves can also be predominant in the frontal areas of the brain, which regulates impulsivity, and can cause the ADHD child to be impulsive and act without thinking.

So, in short by finding the right frequency and properly calibrating, brainwave entrainment has been shown to be extremely beneficial in both children and adults with ADHD!

Brainwave Entrainment Research

There are numerous studies finding that this beta training can increase cognitive abilities, enhance memory, increase focus and mental speed.

A study by Harold Russel PhD and John Carter PhD, at the University of Houston, in which they used brainwave entrainment to treat ADHD along with other learning disorders showed that after a short period of treatment there was a 5-7 point increase in IQ. and a study with Susan Othmer and Dr. Siefried found in a controlled study of ADHD children, using this beta training produced average IQ increases of 23%.

A Psychologist named Michael Joyce used brainwave entrainment with 30 children and saw vast improvements in reading levels and a half a year advancement in grade level. He also observed substantial improvements in attention and reduction in impulsivity and variability.

Are There Any Side effects?

The only thing I have found that could be considered a side effect was that it is possible during the first few sessions (mainly more intense treatment), you may experience a mild headache. A headache during a session is usually called a vascular headache, which is from the increased blood flow in your brain.

Now you have to remember that this treatment is like I said a "mental workout", and I don't know about you but when I work out I get sore, so I think that may be a part of this small side effect during the first couple treatments.

Also, children with ADHD have a slow blood flow naturally and so when you open that and make the blood flow quicker it can cause this headache, simply from not being used to it. The same goes for not being used to that much brain activity, it's like medications, your body or in this case brain needs to adjust and get used to it.

Conclusion

So, my overall conclusion is that it is definitely worth a try for your ADHD child. It isn't expensive and has been researched with many proven results.

I have read and have been researching about brain training such as neuro and biofeedback which are very expensive and this seems to be a more realistic price with promising results.

Here are some Brainwave Entrainment MP3, downloads and CD's you can look at (click one below and look for Attention Deficit or ADHD)..

The Unexplainable Store®