ADHD:  3 RECENT ARTICLES ABOUT THE DISORDER

Article #1

TITLE

Does sugar make kids hyper? That’s largely a myth

DESCRIPTION

This article begins with a series of “slides” that show how much sugar is found in common every day foods consumed by both children and adults.  The article reviews several studies that attempt to pinpoint the effects of sugar consumption in children.  Most studies have found very little effect, if any.  “Notably, a small percentage of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be extra sensitive to sugar, and their behavior changes when they eat it, according to Jill Castle, a registered dietitian and childhood nutrition expert who teaches a parenting course called the ADHD Diet for Kids. “They may become more aggressive or hyperactive or difficult to parent,” Castle explained. Minimizing sugar in the diet can be beneficial for these children.”  What is interesting in the article is the discussion of some studies that demonstrated that the idea of sugar as a cause of hyperactivity was more related to parents’ perceptions than to actual consumption of real sugar versus a placebo type drink.  Also, the article discusses other aspects of too much sugar consumption (obesity and diabetes) and offers some nutritional tips for parents.  The article will make a good foundation for discussion.

SOURCE

CNN Health, April 18, 2019, by Lisa Drayer

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/18/health/sugar-hyper-myth-food-drayer/index.html

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/yyhu67so

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Article #2

TITLE

More screen time linked to higher risk of ADHD in preschool-aged children: Study

DESCRIPTION

Several studies have found that children under 5 who spend several hours a day looking/playing with screen devices (phones/tablets) had a higher incidence of ADHD than children who engaged in more physical play activities.  “A new study out of the University of Alberta has found that by the age of 5, children who spent two hours or more looking at a screen each day were 7.7 times more likely to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when compared to children who spent 30 minutes or less each day on a screen.”  This is correlational data and the study needs to be repeated in other research; however, it is a beginning to aid in the understanding of possible risks for ADHD.  The article is a good foundation for dealing with real issues of childhood and possible research strategies for Psychology as a Science.

SOURCE

ABC NEWS, April 17, 2019, by Joshua Rosenblatt

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/screen-time-linked-higher-risk-adhd-preschool-aged/story?id=62429157

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/y5ux235o

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Article #3

TITLE

The Creativity of ADHD

More insights on a positive side of a “disorder”

DESCRIPTION

This high level Scientific American article discusses a number of studies intended to discover whether there were any “positives” to ADHD.  The studies are described and conclude that some ADHD individuals may have a type of creative thinking not found in individuals who are not diagnosed with ADHD.  The article concludes:  “ADHD may create difficulties for individuals in many contexts that required focused, sustained attention—such as school, where students are expected to sit still and pay attention. On the other hand, the same distractibility and chaotic mind can give people with ADHD an edge when it comes to creative, original thinking. This new study suggests that ADHD may be especially beneficial when the goal is to create or invent something new without being locked into—and constrained by—old models or conventions. The innovative, original thinking style of people with ADHD may be a great fit for innovative fields where it’s an advantage to be on the cutting edge.”  The article may be a good resource for students who are interested in advanced research in the field.

SOURCE

Scientific American, March 5, 2019, by Holly White

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-creativity-of-adhd/

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/y6mtbof6

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CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?  What are the symptoms of the disorder?

•Does sugar consumption affect activity or is this a myth concerning ADHD?

•What are some of the correlational findings of children’s usage of electronic devices (phones/tablets) for long periods of time in a day?  Can you, the student, design an experiment around these findings to verify the correlational results.

•Are there any positive aspects of ADHD?  What type of research has been conducted to test this idea?  What are some of the findings?