ADHD diagnoses are on the rise; Kids thrive when they understand how their brains work
ADHD diagnoses are on the rise; Kids thrive when they understand how their brains work
Plus: Oregon officials settled a five-year battle over foster care failures
Medical Motherhood’s news round up
Snippets of news and opinion from outlets around the world. Click the links for the full story.
• From NPR: “ADHD diagnoses are rising. 1 in 9 U.S. kids have gotten one, new study finds”
About 1 in 9 children in the U.S., between the ages of 3 and 17, have been diagnosed with ADHD. That's according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that calls attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder an "expanding public health concern."
Researchers found that in 2022, 7.1 million kids and adolescents in the U.S. had received an ADHD diagnosis – a million more children than in 2016. That jump in diagnoses was not surprising, given that the data was collected during the pandemic, says Melissa Danielson, a statistician with the CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and the study's lead author.
[…]While the report found that the number of kids diagnosed with ADHD had risen since 2016, only about half of them were taking medication to treat the condition – compared with two-thirds of children back in 2016. The data didn't look into reasons why this might be, but Danielson notes that reports of shortages of ADHD medications began around the time the data was collected.
[…]Wiznitzer says medication is important because it can help kids focus by controlling symptoms of impulsivity, overactivity and inattention. But ADHD treatment also requires therapy that can teach children — and their parents — behavioral and educational strategies to manage their condition. "It's always a two-pronged approach," he says. He finds it troubling that the report found less than half of kids and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD were getting any behavioral therapy.
The report also found that nearly 78% percent of children diagnosed with ADHD had at least one other diagnosed disorder. The most common were behavioral or conduct problems, anxiety and developmental delays. Autism and depression were also frequently observed, Danielson says.[…]
• From Scientific American (Opinion): “Neurodivergent Kids Flourish When They’re Taught How Their Brains Work”
Whether a child has ADHD, a learning disability or is autistic, parents of kids with special needs yearn to know what they can do to help. As a pediatric neuropsychologist and a former special-education teacher with about 50 years of experience, I’ve been approached time and again by parents asking: “How can I help my child make friends?” “What can I do to make sure my child has the skills to be independent?” “How can I boost my child’s self-confidence?” They want to know the key to helping their kids.
There is a simple and effective answer: When kids have a better understandingof the condition that affects their learning, they tend to have a better self-concept, and they are more likely to feel empowered and motivated to self-advocate. These keys unlock a child’s potential, resulting in better academic performance and better mental health.
[…]In my experience as a consultant and teacher-trainer in hundreds of schools, I’ve seen how students in schools that intentionally teach kids about their learning disability, ADHD or autism see greater success than those in programs that do not have this goal, or those where this kind of instruction is left to chance. Parents who understand that self-knowledge leads to better self-advocacy and greater confidence also teach their kids about the condition that makes school challenging, and what they can do about it.
[…]Having the “talk” with kids can be anxiety-producing for both parents and children. If you want to have this discussion with your child about their learning disability, timing is key. Ideally, have this conversation after a professional evaluation. This provides a framework and reassurance that your concerns are valid. I would suggest starting with observations: “I've noticed you sometimes struggle with reading. Can we talk about ways to make it easier for you?” Remember to frame the issue in a positive light: “Everyone learns differently. Some people learn best by seeing, while others need to hear things explained. You might learn best in a way that’s different from other kids.”
[…]At home, you can share books, websites or videos explaining learning styles and ADHD. Expose your kids to other kids who deal successfully with this challenge. By connecting with support groups, parents and children with learning disability or ADHD, can learn from shared experiences.[…]
• From Oregon Capital Chronicle: “Oregon DHS and Disability Rights Oregon settle long-running class-action foster care lawsuit”
The Oregon Department of Human Services agreed to a historic settlement in a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of the state’s foster children that will put the state agency under more accountability to improve its care for some of Oregon’s most vulnerable young people.
The state agency, which is responsible for more than 4,600 foster children, has agreed to work with an outside expert to improve in areas like placing children in appropriate households, curtailing bad treatment and abuse and ensuring quality medical and mental health care. Years of work is ahead: The agreement says the outside expert’s role with the agency could last for up to a decade – and potentially be extended.
[…]The stories of children in the system are central to the case.
The first filing of the lawsuit centered in part upon the record of then-3-year-old Wyatt and his 18-month-old brother Noah. The two brothers experienced half a dozen placements within three weeks and the agency eventually moved them into separate homes. The frequent moves and separation impacted the children: Wyatt had outbursts with kicking, hitting and screaming. Noah had night terrors and needed constant attention.
Another, Norman, was 17 when the case started. By then, Norman had shuffled through at least 50 locations, including an Idaho facility where he was placed in restraints by staff and other youth assaulted him, breaking his nose, the lawsuit said. He also did not get the mental health services he needed – and could not observe his Native American cultural traditions and grow out his hair.
[…]Under the agreement, the Oregon Department of Human Services and attorneys for the plaintiffs will pick an outside neutral expert by May 31 to guide the state’s work in the years to come.
[…]The expert’s first review is due by April 20, 2025. Annual reviews will continue for each year until the expert determines the Oregon Department of Human Services is in compliance – or after 10 years, whichever comes first. The expert could recommend an extension of up to two years beyond that.
The Oregon Department of Human Services also agreed to enter mediation to determine the amount of attorney fees it will owe the plaintiffs for their costs during the case. And the state agreed to pay up to $150,000 annually in attorney fees to Disability Rights Oregon and A Better Childhood for their work during the term of the settlement.[…]
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