5. Executive functions and ADHD Adam J. Cox, Ph.D http://www.lehighpsych.com/art_adhd.htm Has trouble remembering things, even for a few minutes; when sent for something forgets what s/he was supposed to get Holding information in mind for the purpose of completing a specific and related task Working Memory Is too easily upset, explosive; small events trigger big emotional response Modulating / controlling one’s own emotional response appropriate to the stressor or situation Emotional Control Does not check work for mistakes; is unaware of own behaviour and its impact on others Checking on one’s own actions during, or shortly after finishing, the task or activity to assure appropriate attainment of the goal Self-Monitor Has a scattered, disorganised approach to solving a problem; is easily over-whelmed by large tasks or assignments Establishing or maintaining order in an activity or place; carrying out a task in a systematic manner Organise Starts assignments at the last minute; does not think ahead about possible problems Anticipating future events, setting goals, and developing appropriate steps ahead of time to carry out an associated task or action Plan Gets stuck on a topic or tends to perseverate Freely moving from one situation, activity, or aspect of a problem to another as the situation demands Shift Has trouble ‘putting the breaks’ on behaviour, acts without thinking Not acting on impulse or appropriately stopping one’s own activity at the proper time Inhibit Has trouble getting started on chores or homework Beginning a task or activity Initiate DYSFUNCTION DEFINITION SUB-DOMAIN
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8. Brain Matures A Few Years Late In ADHD, But Follows Normal Pattern ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2007) — In youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed three years in some regions, on average, compared to youth without the disorder, an imaging study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has revealed. The delay in ADHD was most prominent in regions at the front of the brain's outer mantle (cortex), important for the ability to control thinking, attention and planning. Otherwise, both groups showed a similar back-to-front wave of brain maturation with different areas peaking in thickness at different times.
9. The Worldwide Prevalence of ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis Guilherme Polanczyk, M.D., Maurício Silva de Lima, M.D. Ph.D., Bernardo Lessa Horta, M.D. Ph.D., Joseph Biederman, M.D., Luis Augusto Rohde, M.D., Ph.D. Am J Psychiatry 164:6, June 2007
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12. CHILDHOOD ADHD IS ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS [email_address]
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20. Thom Hartmann's Hunter and Farmer Approach to ADD/ADHD Taken from Thom Hartmann's book, "ADD: A Different Perception." Nurturing; creates and supports community values; attuned to whether something will last. "No time for niceties when there are decisions to be made!" Lacking in the social graces. Careful. "looking before you leap." Willing and able to take risk and face danger. Acts without considering consequences. Focused. Good at follow-through, tending to details, "taking care of business." Bored by mundane tasks; enjoy new ideas, excitement, "the hunt" being hot on the trial. Daydreamer. Team player. Independent. Has difficulty following directions. Patient. Aware that good thing take time willing to wait. Visual/Concrete thinker, clearly seeing a tangible goal even if there are no words for it. Doesn't convert words into concepts adeptly, and vice versa. May or may not have a reading disability. Conscious of time and timing. They get things done in time, pace themselves, have good "staying power." Tireless: capable of sustained drives, but only when "Hot on the trail" of some goal. Impatient. Organized, purposeful. They have a long term strategy and they stick to it. Flexible; ready to change strategy quickly. Distorted sense of time: unaware of how long it will take to do something. Able to sustain a steady, dependable effort. Able to throw themselves into the chase on a moment's notice. Poor planner: disorganized and impulsive (makes snap decisions). Not easily distracted from the task at hand. Constantly monitoring their environment. Attention spans short, but can become intensely focused for long periods of time. Opposite "Farmer" traits: How it appears in the "Hunter" view: Trait as it appears in the "Disorder" view:
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28. Move ADHD Parenting Classes To The Soccer Field To Get Dads Involved "I was surprised to find there were no studies on dads with kids with ADHD and so I thought this would be a good area in which we could try to do something. My dissertation was trying out a parenting program specifically for fathers, using sports as a kind of hook to get the dads interested and the kids too," Fabiano said. His new research program, designed for children 6-12 years of age, includes two formats: a control group of fathers and children who receive traditional, evidence-based treatments for ADHD families and another group that receives the same, plus a sports element, in this case, soccer games. This second group is dubbed COACHES, or Coaching Our Acting-Out Children: Heightening Essential Skills. Traditional treatments include teaching parents strategies to deal with the disruptive behaviors that are hallmarks of the disorder. Adding the COACHES element, Fabiano hoped, would result in increased participation for the fathers and improved relationships with their children. "We thought for a chronic disorder like ADHD where these fathers aren't going to be dealing with these problems for a couple weeks or a couple months, but for the child's entire life, the treatment has to be well-liked, palatable and engaging," Fabiano explained. The results, he said, have been remarkable. "We had huge differences on things like drop-out rates for both the dad and the child. The dads in the COACHES group were more likely to try out the homework, which was a pretty big accomplishment," Fabiano said. "They also rated the treatment as better." ScienceDaily (Oct. 26, 2007) — While working with parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the University at Buffalo, Gregory A. Fabiano noticed something was missing: the fathers.
