Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Autism, Psychiatric Disorders Close Genetic Cousins

Excerpt from: Disability Scoop (click for full article)

 

In the largest study of its kind, researchers are reporting that autism may be more closely tied to a handful of other psychiatric disorders than previously thought.

Scientists analyzed the genomes of more than 60,000 people finding that those with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia may all share genetic risk factors.

For the study published online this week in the journal The Lancet, researchers looked at the genomes of 33,332 people, each of whom had one of the five psychiatric disorders targeted, and 27,888 people with no mental health issues. They found four areas of genetic code with variations seen in people with all five psychiatric conditions.

The discovery could help improve understanding of the psychiatric disorders, researchers said, and may lead to more accurate ways to diagnose the conditions.

ADHD Symptoms Persist For Most Young Children Despite Treatment

Excerpt from: Newswise (click for full article)

 

Nine out of 10 young children with moderate to severe attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) continue to experience serious, often severe symptoms and impairment long after their original diagnoses and, in many cases, despite treatment, according to a federally funded multi-center study led by investigators at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

The study, published online Feb. 11 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, is the largest long-term analysis to date of preschoolers with ADHD, the investigators say, and sheds much-needed light on the natural course of a condition that is being diagnosed at an increasingly earlier age.

“ADHD is becoming a more common diagnosis in early childhood, so understanding how the disorder progresses in this age group is critical,” says lead investigator Mark Riddle, M.D., a pediatric psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. “We found that ADHD in preschoolers is a chronic and rather persistent condition, one that requires better long-term behavioral and pharmacological treatments than we currently have.”

Coping with a Child's Bipolar Disorder and Childproofing Your Home

Excerpt from: About.com (click for full article)

 

Making your home safe for every child is important, and it is especially important if your child has learning disabilities. Children with developmental delays, language development problems, attention deficit disorders, and mental disabilities require special consideration when child-proofing your home. Learn what to look out for when childproofing your home for a child with learning disabilities.

Bipolar Disorder in Children: Misunderstood and Misdiagnosed

Excerpt from: Psych Central (click for full article)

 

Approximately 1.5% of the population, worldwide, bipolar disorder is not uncommon. However, bipolar disorder in children presents differently than it does in adults, an important difference which is not addressed in our current diagnostic manual (DSM-IV-TR). As a result, it is frequently misdiagnosed.

59% of persons diagnosed with bipolar disorder experienced symptoms as a child. And, a significant number of children are identified as having other psychiatric difficulties as young children; 25% of children with ADHD and 33% of children with depression are later diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Children typically cycle multiple times per day. They do not typically exhibit the depression/mania pattern that adults do; the pattern associated with adulthood bipolar disorder does not typically emerge until mid to late adolescence.

Children with bipolar disorder often present as tired in the morning with increasing energy as the day progresses.

2013 Youth Achievement Award

Excerpt from: Smart Kids: Learning Disabilities (click for more information)

 

Nominations are now open for the 2013 Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award. This $1,000 award recognizes the strengths and accomplishments of young people with learning disabilities and ADHD. It will be given to a student 19 or younger who has demonstrated initiative, talent and determination resulting in a notable accomplishment in any field—including art, music, science, math, athletics or community service. Honorable Mentions will also be awarded.

The award will be presented at the organization’s annual benefit on the evening of Friday, April 26, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Transportation and hotel accommodations will be provided for the winning student and his/her parents.

The application may be submitted by parents, teachers, coaches, mentors or students themselves. Please submit the application and documentation by the contest deadline of January 31, 2013 to Smart Kids with LD, 38 Kings Highway North, Westport, CT 06880. For information, contact us via email at [email protected].

Download the 2013 Youth Achievement Award application form here

What Does It Feel Like to Have ADHD?

Excerpt from: ADDitude (click for full article)

 

We asked ADDitude readers, "What does it feel like to have ADHD?"

Having ADHD does not "feel like" anything. Unlike a physical problem--a broken bone, say--ADHD is invisible. People offer sympathy when you are in pain. Trying to explain ADHD without seeming to make excuses is tough. Perhaps if someone were to create a "sling" or "splint" for ADHD, the public might have more sympathy for having the condition. -Ann, Tennessee

Every day is a struggle, but you make the best of it. Meds help, but they aren't a miracle cure. You take things people say literally. -Argelia, Georgia

Crazy, frustrating, and sometimes the funniest thing ever—once you learn to laugh at yourself! And we all need to. -Amy, Ohio

It is as if you are driving through thick fog, on a dark road, trying to get to where you know you are supposed to be. The problem is, you lost the directions and have no GPS to guide you--and, in the background, the radio is playing loud songs that are changing. -April, Texas

Why I Fight Unapologetically Hard for Children.

Excerpt from: Marcie Lipsitt's Blog (click for full post)

 

I was born a “child” advocate. I was born an “advocate and activist” for all that I believe to be wrong with our state, nation and the world. I used to get teased by my father for “being on that soapbox again…” and today I carry my soapbox with pride. I was raised in a family with generations of rampant psychiatric illness. I too would bear the heredity and suffer from depression. By the age of ten I decided that not one child asks to be born and had some higher power asked me if I wanted to be born into a generational mix and almost a century of ADHD, learning disabilities, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders…and that I would be born with treatment resistent depression and anorexia, I would have said, “thank you for asking but I will pass.”

No child asks to be born. No child chooses to be born with a disability, to poverty, illiteracy, homelessness, crime and a perpetuation of poverty. No child would choose to be born given those choices. That is why I fight unapologetically hard for children. I fight for ALL children but especially those described above. Why do I share this now and on this day? The answer is because Steve Camron, a highly regarded professor at Eastern Michigan University had a profound impact on my life and today he “liked” my Special Education Wall of Shame. I have no idea if he knnows this page is my brainchild or that it originated due to the vile and ignorant comments made by a guy who ran an unsuccessful campaign for a seat in the Alaskan state legislature. This man’s comments led to the discussion and decision to call out legislators working to deny children with disabilities with a meaningful free appropriate public education.

My Story: Susan Reynolds

Excerpt from: Disability Blog (click for full post)

 

My name is Susan Reynolds and I’m an Air Force spouse, a mom, a volunteer, an advocate for military children, and I have a disability.  I have a learning disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is something that I have struggled with all of my life.

Every day for the last few years I have come to terms again and again with who I am.  I have an amazing husband and son who have helped me on my journey.  These two wonderful men have shown me that my disability is something to identify with, not be ashamed of.  The Military Special Needs Network has helped me find my voice and provided me with direction. 

Is my disability a “label” or an identification? I don’t know, but I’m not choosing. I’m Susan Reynolds and I’m a military spouse and a mom; I am also an adult who has a learning disability and ADHD. I’m really proud of being all of these things!

6 ADHD Coaching Strategies: The recording is here!

Excerpt from: My Attention Coach (click for more information)

 

Last week, I offered a teleclass to share 6 ADHD Coaching Strategies. So many people ask me how ADHD coaching works that I wanted to share some strategies to illustrate some of the strategies I use as an ADHD Coach.

If you were not able to listen to the teleclass, I hope you’ll have some time to listen to the recording of Recording: 6 Strategies to Apply ADHD Coaching Techniques.

I shared the following strategies that you can apply to your work, family and personal goals:

1. Ask Insightful Questions:  For more information, check out my post titled Ask Insightful Questions – Just Like a Coach!
2. Practice Active Listening
3. Focus on what works for YOU
4. Build in accountability for yourself
5. Build structure into your daily life
6. Plan – even if only for a few minutes each day.

Children with Disabilities: Medical Care, Education, and Cost

Excerpt from: The Future of Children (click for full post)

 

A recent Child Trends Research Brief, "Children with Disabilities: State-Level Data from the American Community Survey," uses data to look at the diverse needs of children with disabilities. Several critical findings and topics were also noted in the Future of Children's recent issue on Children with Disabilities.
 
Both the Child Trends research brief and the Future of Children note that there is little consensus in defining children with disabilities. "Researchers tend to focus on the individual causes of disability such as autism, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder" (Future of Children). Regardless of the definition, children with disabilities need more specialized care medically, environmentally, and educationally.  Parents of these children "often need to advocate for their child across multiple domains, from managing the child's medical care, to ensuring an appropriate and individualized educational plan is in place, to meeting significant expenses that may arise due to the disability" (Child Trends).

As Child Trends notes, health insurance is vital for children with disabilities. The Child Trends brief cites Peter Szilagyi's Future of Children chapter, "Health Insurance and Children with Disabilities," which observes that the number of children with disabilities covered under private insurance declined by about 10 percent during from 2000 to 2008, while public insurance coverage increased. The two main public health insurance programs are Medicaid and SCHIP (known since 2009 as the Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP).  Nearly half of children with special health care needs who have insurance are covered by one of these two programs; 90 percent are enrolled in Medicaid, the other 10 percent in CHIP. These are among several programs that provide health services for children disabilities. As Child Trends points out, "children with disabilities who are insured get more timely and comprehensive care, and that their parents are more satisfied with their child's health care than are parents of children with disabilities who lack insurance."