Latest news with #ADHD-like
TimesLIVE
22-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
ADHD vs sleep deprivation: what your teen really is struggling with
The symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have become a popular conversation topic on the internet. While this may be an attempt at normalising conversations concerning mental health, it can often lead to misdiagnosis — something that has been considered by medical doctor Alison Bentley. Speaking recently at the Education Incorporated Private School, Bentley said it's important to note sleep history, especially with teens. Here are three important factors to consider when it comes to differentiating between ADHD and a lack of sleep. Bringing sleep into the ADHD conversation Bentley cautioned against the widespread tendency to overlook sleep problems in teens presenting with ADHD-like symptoms. 'We have to ask whether a teenager is inattentive or simply sleep-deprived,' she said. 'It's not uncommon for teens to be medicated without a proper sleep history being taken.' She explained that delayed sleep phase syndrome, which is a biological shift in teenagers' internal clocks, causes adolescents to become naturally sleepy much later than expected — often leading to sleep deprivation when forced to wake early for school. 'These children aren't lazy or defiant — they're on London time, not South African time,' noted principal Gershom Aitchison. 'If we continue to ignore their biology, we're setting them up for failure.' Bentley echoed this sentiment. 'Sleep is a passive activity that requires letting go — and that's very difficult when you're anxious or when your natural rhythm is out of sync with your schedule. We need to stop treating sleep as optional or secondary. The other two-thirds of your life depend on what happens in that one-third of sleep.' Other factors affecting teens' sleep Teens' sleep can also be compromised by caffeine abuse, overuse of screens and the pressures of school performance. Amy Dewes-Goulborn, a psychologist working in a high school environment, expressed concern about the growing number of teenagers relying on energy drinks and late-night device use — behaviours that further disrupt sleep and can be misinterpreted as psychiatric conditions. Practical insights were shared from the classroom, too. Aitchison reflected on the success of school camps, where increased physical activity and structured routines reduced students' reliance on sleep medication. 'We also allow students to eat when they're hungry at school,' he said. 'Their digestive systems are on a delayed wake-up, just like their brains — so we listen to the body.' Parental involvement Bentley emphasised the need for education — not just for teenagers, but for their parents and the healthcare system. 'No child should be medicated for ADHD without a thorough conversation about their sleep. And parents need support to understand that setting boundaries around bedtime isn't just discipline — it's an act of care.' She also highlighted the importance of giving teenagers agency. 'Teens respond when we ask, 'Does this make sense to you?' or 'Can you follow this plan?' They need knowledge, and they need to feel seen. When we hand them some control, their anxiety drops — and so does the need for intervention.' The speakers agreed that there is a need for more honest conversations, more informed medical referrals, and for sleep to be treated not as a luxury but as a cornerstone of wellbeing. 'We need to stop medicating away symptoms without asking why they're there. If we get sleep right, we change everything — from mood and focus to health and academic success,' concluded Bentley.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Docs warn of rise in health risks in kids due to too much screen time
Lucknow: Doctors from King George's Medical University (KGMU) on Saturday warned that children spending long hours on phones, tablets and TVs are facing a rise in health problems ranging from obesity, myopia and sleep disturbances to depression, suicidal thoughts and aggressive behaviour. Addressing an awareness programme for over 100 teachers and counsellors, head of the psychiatry department, Prof Vivek Agarwal said that the developing brains of pre-schoolers are particularly vulnerable. Excessive screen exposure, he explained, can blunt attention span, delay language development, and weaken emotional control and social skills. Adding to the discussion, Prof Amit Arya from the same department highlighted that unregulated digital use is contributing to a rise in ADHD-like symptoms, autism-spectrum traits, substance abuse and growing cases of cyberbullying, internet addiction and gaming or gambling-related disorders. Offering practical solutions, Prof Pawan Kumar Gupta urged schools and parents to promote " digital hygiene " by implementing written screen-use agreements between students and guardians, setting fixed daily limits, creating device-free zones at home, encouraging outdoor play and introducing structured lessons on online safety and responsible digital citizenship. He also raised concerns about the growing misuse of sexually explicit emojis and coded messages among teenagers, stressing the need for stronger policy safeguards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo The experts referred to the Indian Academy of Paediatrics guidelines, which recommend zero screen time for children under two and a supervised one-hour limit for those aged 2-5. However, post-pandemic trends reveal that many children now spend more than four hours a day on screens, often unsupervised.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Could your child's ADHD really be an undiagnosed vision issue?
Are we seeing the signs and symptoms of ADHD clearly? A 2024 report from the CDC revealed a staggering uptick in ADHD diagnoses among American children. But many of these young patients could actually be suffering from an undiagnosed problem that can be detected with a more thorough vision test, board-certified optometrist Bryce Appelbaum, O.D., FCOVD tells The Post. Advertisement 4 Functional vision is compromised when the eyes aren't working together to support coordination or focus. Alexis S/ – What is functional vision? ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a developmental disorder characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior — but Appelbaum says that many of these symptoms are 'identical' to ones for functional vision issues. Functional vision is compromised when the eyes don't work together to support coordination or focus. Essentially, 'the muscles responsible for clarity are having a hard time turning on, staying turned on, or having flexibility,' Appelbaum said. A common vision diagnosis that looks like ADD or ADHD-like behavior is convergence insufficiency, an eye coordination problem that makes it difficult for the eyes to focus on near objects, such as books or computer screens. Advertisement 'A change in eye movement is a change in attention, whether voluntary or involuntary. If we can't control our eye movements, we can't control our attention,' he said. How functional vision problems impact behavior According to Appelbaum, people with convergence insufficiency are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. But standard eye tests fail to accurately measure functional vision, focusing instead on eyesight and eye health. 'A thorough functional vision exam goes beyond just the ability to see; it looks at that eye-brain connection,' he explained. Advertisement 'Somebody that can make their eyes point in the same direction — great. But then after 30 seconds, if they have this fragile coordination, that's going to be a kid who has ants in their pants or is listening to the teacher with their ears rather than with their eyes.' 4 Appelbaum believes every child should have a thorough, comprehensive functional vision test before kindergarten to ensure they're visually ready for learning and eventually, reading. Prostock-studio – Appelbaum said missed or misdiagnosed vision problems can result in unnecessary struggles in the classroom and beyond. Advertisement 'Children can struggle with reading or navigating through space, or even with ball sports or social interaction, because the input from their eyes to their brain is scattered and not filtered appropriately,' he said. What can be done about it? Even though the eyes are the body's dominant sensory system, two out of three children enter school without ever having a vision screening. Appelbaum believes every child should have a thorough, comprehensive functional vision test before kindergarten to ensure they're visually ready for learning and, eventually, reading. Kids can literally go off medication after doing the right type of work… They can focus their eyes so they can focus their mind. Bryce Appelbaum Once a functional vision problem has been diagnosed, it can be treated and, in most cases, corrected with vision performance training. 'It's like PT for the eyes, but really for the brain through the eyes,' he said. 'With the right type of work, you can raise somebody's awareness of what they're doing so they can learn how to self-correct and self-monitor until the eyes and brain are working fluidly together as a team.' 4 Appelbaum said missed or misdiagnosed vision problems can result in unnecessary struggles in the classroom and beyond. linkedin/dr-bryce-appelbaum Treating ADHD Advertisement One in nine children aged 3-17 is diagnosed with ADHD, but a 2021 study in JAMA Network Open reported 'convincing evidence was found that ADHD is overdiagnosed in children and adolescents.' For people with milder symptoms, 'the harms associated with an ADHD diagnosis may often outweigh the benefits,' the researchers concluded. ADHD is typically treated with a combination of behavior therapy and stimulant medication, the latter of which comes with a slew of side effects and drawbacks. The array of stimulant medications used to treat the disorder — Vyvanse, Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin, to name a few — may be accompanied by adverse side effects. Advertisement 4 ADHD is typically treated with a combination of behavior therapy and stimulant medication, the latter of which comes with a slew of side effects and drawbacks. David L/ – Stimulants can cause appetite loss, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, changes in blood pressure and heart rate, and more. Drug misuse was also suggested among other 'potential harms' noted by the CDC. In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Agency issued a warning to manufacturers of ADHD drugs that it was concerned about 'aggressive marketing practices' by companies — in particular, telehealth providers such as Cerebral — that could be driving excessive prescriptions. Advertisement Appelbaum believes children with behavioral issues rooted in vision problems can quickly and efficiently transition off these medications. 'Kids can literally go off medication after doing the right type of work because their eyes and brain are working together, and the need for stimulation is gone. They can focus their eyes so they can focus their mind,' he said. For Appelbaum, the mission to educate parents about the relationship between vision and behavioral issues is a personal one. As a child, he struggled with focusing in the classroom and responding on the soccer field. His father, an optometrist, and mother, an occupational therapist, 'put together a plan of action to help facilitate the development that was necessary for me to soar in life.' Advertisement This plan included vision performance training. 'This was 37 years ago. What took me years we can now accomplish in a matter of months based on innovations, new protocols. We see improvements rather quickly, especially when the brain has more opportunities for learning.' Appelbaum maintains that while vision testing and training can benefit children diagnosed with ADHD, the positive effects are available to adults as well. 'Any brain at any age can learn new tricks,' he said. 'We need to put our vision first and look into the eye-brain connection, which goes beyond just going to the eye doctor and seeing if you need glasses. We must look at the functional visual skills because so much of our potential can be unlocked through vision.'
Time Magazine
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
Peter Lurie
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Red Dye #3 in January 2025—an act that was a long time coming for the federal government, the American public, and Dr. Peter Lurie. Back in 1984, during a gap year from medical school, Lurie helped a public interest group called Public Citizen advocate against harmful synthetic chemicals in food, including Red Dye #3. Research has linked Red Dye #3 to cancer and ADHD-like symptoms in children. Since then, whether as a physician, academic researcher, or federal official, his work has often focused on ridding the food supply of toxic chemicals. As the president and executive director of Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), he directed his organization in 2022 to petition the FDA to ban Red Dye #3. But from previously working at the FDA, Lurie knew that their best shot was to pressure the agency—through the states. In California, CSPI helped develop legislation that led to a state-level ban and the removal of certain food dyes from the school meal program in 2024. After four decades, Lurie was 'thrilled' when the FDA finally passed a federal ban. Just weeks later, his team successfully helped pressure the agency to define 'healthy' food labels, so that they better align with nutrition science. 'Most people believe the government is protecting them, but it often isn't,' Lurie says. 'That's where we step in.'
