Brains In The Family

Physicians Pay Attention To ADHD On College Campuses

From Medical News Today

Can't study. Can't focus. Can't remember what I was supposed to do next. I've got to do this. No, I've got to do that. What was I doing? 

In college, students with attention deficit/hyperactive disorder face an array of challenges-long days and nights of classes, studying and activities, all of which require increasing amounts of concentration. 

Dr. Mark Thomas stands ready to help, both at The University of Alabama's Student Health Services and through his research into treating AD/HD on campuses across the country. That treatment includes prescribing drugs that allow students to focus over long periods of time and training in better study habits. 

ADHD Prevention: Stop Smoking While Pregnant and Reduce Lead Exposure

While most of the focus on attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is about diagnosing and treating the condition, a recent study helps parents understand two steps they can take to possibly prevent children's ADHD.  For instance, mothers who smoke while pregnant more than double the risk of having a child who will be later diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

The new study also estimated that if pregnant women stopped smoking, up to one-fifth of children could avoid an eventual ADHD diagnosis. The risk of ADHD is even higher if the child was also exposed to lead paint, or high levels of lead from soil or old water pipes.

Only Half of Youths With Mental Disorders Receive Help

From Medical News Today

Only about half of American children and teenagers who have certain mental disorders receive professional services, according to a nationally representative survey funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The survey also provides a comprehensive look at the prevalence of common mental disorders. 

New Standard For Autism Spectrum Disorder Recommended

From PychCentral

An Israeli researcher has defined a new, integrated interpretation of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  The work will make it easier to understand both the commonalities and differences between ASD and other conditions.

In an article published in the journal The Neuroscientist , Dr. Dorit Ben Shalom recommends a uniform approach to evaluating and confronting the four common problems associated with ASD.

GPA Not Affected by Social Networking

As a parent, if you ever worried how your kids' online social networking was impacting their grades, you can breathe a sigh of relief.  Based on a recent PsychCentral article, researchers discovered online social networking does not appear to be associated with a decline in grades.