Approximately 60% of children under the age of 11 experience some kind of sleep difficulty at least a few nights a week. A recent study conducted by published in the journal Sleep found that more than 80 percent of American children who visit a doctor because they have difficulty sleeping are given some form of prescription medication, even though no sleeping pills are currently approved for use in kids. The research was conducted at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in Columbus and complement a 2004 National Sleep Foundation poll that revealed that sleep difficulties are extremely widespread among the young. Specific medications included: about a third were prescribed antihistamines, a quarter alpha-2 agonists, 15% were offered benzodiazepines, and 6% antidepressants.
81% of these children and teens were prescribed medication for their sleep issues. Other recommendations included: 7% were recommended diet and nutritional counseling, 22 % were offered behavioral therapy, and 17% were offered mental health and stress management treatment. A combined regimen of medication plus behavioral therapy was prescribed in just under a fifth of cases. Patients who sought care from a psychiatrist were more than three times as likely to be prescribed a drug for their sleep trouble than those who visited a general practice physician.
Children having difficulty sleeping isn’t “normal”. Rather than simply treat the symptom it is important to figure out the cause – then we can more effectively correct the problem. Antidotally, my experiences as a psychologist have proven to me that therapy for sleep difficulties is very effective. It is critical to approach difficulties from a holistic perspective. In other words, assessing a child’s:
-          Diet: With particular focus on the level of caffeine intake as well as how close to bedtime he eating.
-          Exercise: How much physical exercise does the child engage in and when in the day is she most active.
-          Well-being: Areas to consider include what his school day like, anything new happening at home, is she being bullied or is he worried about upcoming tests, etc…? Often parents are surprised by the worries of a young person since to an adult they are not realistic. Without thoughtful discussion in a safe and relaxed environment, some kids never talk about their concerns and continue to have sleepless nights for long periods of time.
-          Home Life: How comfortable does the child feel in his room? Is the light and noise level appropriate for REM sleeping? Are parents fighting in the other room? How comfortable is the mattress?
-          Relaxation Techniques: Learning simple breathing techniques or body scanning strategies are a useful non-medication approach to falling asleep. 

A Columbia & NYU study reveals teens watching TV three or more hours a day are at risk for developing attention and learning problems. The study examined 678 families from upsate New York, interviewing parents and children about their television habits and school performance.

Did excessive TV time cause attention and learning problems, or were children who already had these problems more prone to watch TV? The association is not clear, but suggests that those who watch a large amount of television are at a disadvantage in school compared to those who do not.

Some of the outcomes noted with increased TV viewing include failure to complete homework, boredom at school, poor grades, negative attitudes about school, failure in secondary school, and failure to obtain post-secondary education. It may be simply that excessive TV viewing takes away time that may otherwise be spent on educational activities, reading and doing homework.

To improve educational achievement, parents should limit TV time to 1-2 hours per day of quality programming. We suggest removing the TV from your child’s room to limit unrestricted access and monitor what your child is watching. Spend more time on family activities and games that challenge learning and thinking for everyone!

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=604353

A recent survey conducted by The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported that teens may be more cautious with sharing demographic information than we think. The survey reported that although teens are putting their first name and a photo, most do not include a full name or make their profile public. They are using these sites to connect with friends and people they already know. The most popular sites that teens with ADHD discuss in our offices are MySpace and Facebook. Another safety mechanism is that most social-networking sites have restricted access to their profiles in some fashion, such as by requiring passwords or making them available only to friends on an approved list. However, even with these safeguards, I continue to recommend that parents monitor their teens profile and general internet activity. Remembering that developmentally most teens believe they are immune to most problems in society.

When people enter my office, they often comment on the soothing soft blue-green color of the walls (Benjamin Moore: “Quiet Moments”). It feels relaxing and is condusive to a calm and thoughtful conversation about ADHD and well-being. Reseach just published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology reports that test performance may be impacted somewhat by color, particularly the color red. U.S. and Germany scientists have discovered the color red can affect how people function, keeping them from performing at their best on tests. University of Rochester and University of Munich researchers looking at the effect of red on intellectual performance found if test takers are aware of even a hint of red, their performance will be affected to a significant degree.  (more…)