attention deficit disorder news stories on Newser

Bad News for Lefties: You Have More Health Risks

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:34:05 CST

About 10% of the population is left-handed, but a disproportionate amount of people with schizophrenia—20%—are lefties. Schizophrenia is just one of a number of psychiatric and developmental disorders that are more common in left-handed people, including dyslexia, ADHD, language difficulties, and mood disorders. Researchers think this could have...

ADHD: Blame Genes, Not Parenting

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:13:14 CDT

The next time the kid at the table next to you at dinner won’t stop banging his spoon on the table, pause before inwardly berating his parents. He may have ADHD —and a new study shows that, contrary to popular belief, the disorder is not caused by bad parenting or...

Kids Prescribed Pot for ADHD

Mary Papenfuss — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:49:41 CST

Schools with a zero tolerance drug policy are running smack dab into the smoldering roach of marijuana legally prescribed to their students. "It does put us in an awkward position," said a principal in Oregon, one of 14 states where medical marijuana is now legal. Hard as it may be...

ADHD Drugs Linked to Teen Sudden Death

Rob Quinn — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:22:26 CDT

A new study suggests that taking ADHD drugs like Ritalin puts young people at a higher risk of sudden cardiac death, WebMd reports. Children in the study who died suddenly and inexplicably were six to seven times likelier to have been taking ADHD medication containing stimulants.

Facebook May 'Infantilize' Your Mind, Expert Warns

Harry Kimball — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:28:01 CST

A British neuroscientist thinks the children of today, exposed to “instant new screen images flashing up with the press of a key,” will develop differently from past generations, and that’s not a good thing. Facebook, for instance provides an experience “devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term significance,” Lady Greenfield tells...

MLB Players Still Popping Pills for ADHD

Neal Colgrass — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:05:00 CST

Major Leaguers are still taking amphetamines for attention deficit disorder despite new rules designed under pressure from Congress, the New York Times reports. In fact, such exemptions grew slightly last season until nearly 8% of players were on ADHD drugs, the AP reports. "This is incredible," said expert Dr. Gary...

Cyber-Sneak Mom 'Bullied My Baby to Suicide'

Peter Fearon — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:28:32 CST

A mother tearfully recalled in a Los Angeles court yesterday how her 13-year-old daughter hanged herself shortly after receiving a hateful online message from a neighbor woman posing as a teenage boy, AP reports. Lori Drew allegedly created a MySpace persona named Josh to first woo then harass Megan Meier,...