As a student with a learning disability, confidence has always been half the battle. It has proven time and time again to be the difference between success and failure. I’ve seen my fair share of both. Most times, this confidence …
High school sophomore April Ferguson takes on one of the big questions about ADHD.
Since 1985 scientists have diagnosed children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders found in children. …
Parents especially may find this interesting. A recent article in the New York Times describes some recent studies that point out an apparent connection between sleep disorders and symptoms of ADHD in children. Unlike adults who feel groggy and drowsy …
Originally I set out to write a narrative of what it is like in the head of… well what it is like in my head during any kind of social situation or in a classroom setting. Unfortunately, I found that …
Findings from the latest American Freshman National Norms survey reflect the same general tug-of-war occurring throughout American education. While these 2010 freshman were optimistic about their college experience, and 2/3 of them judged themselves to be “above average” (much like the gifted children of Lake Wobegone), they also assessed their emotional health at a record low.
NPR reported last evening that Food and Drug Administration advisory panel released the position that “the current scientific data is just not solid enough to show that artificial food dyes cause hyperactivity in most children”. This reminds me of the …
Regardless of which paradigm of learning differences and ADHD you subscribe to (medical model or diversity model) you can’t deny that our educational system is inequitable. Some students–regardless of intelligence– will be more successful than others. As a teacher I …
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects between 3 and 7% of American children. The APA characterizes this condition as inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactive behaviors. Furthermore, Barkley classifies ADHD as a problem with behavior disinhibition and argues that inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity …
A recent study examining the potency of self-affirmation in addressing the gender gap has shown some startling results that could be easily applied in any classroom. Women are often outperformed by men on test scores in many of the hard …
In reading a recent article in the New York Times I was once again unpleasantly reminded of the startling skepticism surrounding the phenomenon of Attention Deficit Disorder. In 2002 a prominent international group of scientists and specialists issued a consensus …
I was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyscalculia when I was about six. I’ve always had what felt like a million thoughts bouncing around in my mind, and when I was younger, I had so much trouble organizing my thoughts that …
Growing up with a Nonverbal Learning Disorder can often be a challenge because I sometimes do not understand things as easily as other people do. I am hoping to get a job at Petco, once I turn eighteen, but I …
A number of recent studies reported on in an article in the New York Times offer some intriguing revelations about the way the brain functions while solving problems. For one thing, researchers found that the pleasure associated with problem solving …
In this engaging and thought-provoking video British author and former professor of education Sir Ken Robinson argues for a thorough re-thinking of public education. He claims that the current embattled system is based on outdated assumptions dating back to its …
Over the course of 32 years in teaching, I have come to know many students and adults who face academic and life difficulties because of their nonverbal learning (NLD) and executive function (EFD) deficits. Some of these interactions happened years …
This article from BBC News reports that researchers have found that “ADHD patients lack key proteins which allow them to experience a sense of reward and motivation.” According to researchers the dopamine reward system in these kids (presumably the one …
A recent article in the New York Times, “Seeking an Objective Test for Attention Disorder,” about the search for a definitive test for ADHD as a better alternative to the subjective responses to questionnaires that are commonly used …
Speaking of the cultural and subjective aspects of ADHD, this map of the prevalence of ADHD diagnoses by state showing more cases in certain regions provides food for thought (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/prevalence.html). The associated report notes that, “The findings indicate …
Learning Diversity