FREE WEBINAR ON FEB. 28, 2024: Register for “Eating Disorders Comorbid with ADHD: What to Know About ARFID, Anorexia, and Others” Can’t stand mushy bananas? Hate the taste of cilantro? Avoid foods that smell or look a certain way? If you answered yes to any of the above, then you share a lot in common with our ADDitude readers, many of whom experience strong sensory reactions to food based on taste, texture, smell, and/or temperature. Sensory sensitivities, after all, commonly occur with ADHD, autism, and other forms of neurodivergence. Aversions to certain foods can create minor inconvenience ..read more

Being a “highly sensitive person” (HSP) is not a disorder but an attribute common in people with ADHD. An HSP is more sensitive to environmental and social stimuli. They feel emotions deeply. Unkind words that bounce off others can leave them in tears. Stimulating environments and conversations may lead to angry outbursts, headaches, or rashes. Though they share several similarities, hypersensitivity is not synonymous with sensory processing disorder (SPD), a neurological condition where the brain has difficulty organizing and processing sensory stimuli. In this download, you will learn: Dif ..read more

SLEEP: What sleep disorders commonly co-occur with ADHD in children? A: In one study, about half the parents said their child with ADHD had difficulty sleeping. They said their child felt tired when they woke up, had nightmares, or had… | Keep reading on WebMD » SPD: What distinguishes ADHD from sensory processing disorder? A: Both disorders will make you restless and unable to concentrate. You could also find it hard to control your emotions. Children might have frequent meltdowns… | Keep reading on WebMD » EATING DISORDERS: What distinguishes eating disorders from ADHD? A: For individuals w ..read more

The Clinicians’ Guide to Differential Diagnosis of ADHD is a clinical compendium from Medscape, MDEdge, and ADDitude designed to guide health care providers through the difficult, important decisions they face when evaluating pediatric and adult patients for ADHD and its comorbid conditions. This guided email course will cover the following topics: DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations? DECISION 2: What do I need to understand about ADHD that is not represented in the DSM? DECISION 3: How can I avoid the barriers and biases that impai ..read more

From love bombing to time blindness to hoarding, ADDitude hosted 52 ADHD Experts webinars in 2022. Here are your favorites, plus bonus resources and honorable mentions ..read more

“I can’t fall asleep!” “I need a glass of water.” “Just one more story?” “Mommy, I had a bad dream.” Every parent faces bedtime-stalling tactics and sleep problems from time to time. But if your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD), settling down for sleep – and getting a good night’s rest – may be a daily challenge with serious health consequences. Many American families today struggle to get enough sleep. A poll by the National Sleep Foundation, for example, found that more than one-third of parents report that scheduled evening activities impede a good night’s s ..read more

An overwhelming majority of individuals with ADHD — up to 90 percent of children and approximately 85 percent of adults — are diagnosed with at least one other psychiatric and/or developmental disorder sometime during their lifetime. About half of all children with ADHD have at least two additional, co-existing conditions, called ‘cormorbidities.’ A comorbid condition is a separate condition that exists alongside ADHD, compounding an individual’s cognitive, psychological, and social impairment. These conditions, when found alongside ADHD, warrant special consideration and a unique tr ..read more

I was in a coffee shop seated across from Lynn, a friend I’d known since the year we taught high school together. She said, “How’s Lee’s senior year going?” “Anxiety is making it hard for her to get to school.” “You know what bugs me?” she said. “The way some parents coddle their kids who have anxiety. I think they should be tougher on them and make them go to school.” [Self-Test: Does Your Child Have Generalized Anxiety Disorder?] I tried to ignore my heart pounding in my throat. Don’t get mad, I thought. “Some people” doesn’t necessarily mean me.   “That doesn’t work for us. When Lee ha ..read more

Sensory issues stop many neurodivergent kids from attending fireworks displays, seeing their favorite bands in concert, watching movies in the theater, and even enjoying festivals or theme parks. As their families know all too well, these kids’ sensitive sense of hearing, smell, and/or vision may mean they need shielding from the painful stimuli that surround them. Here, eight ADDitude readers tell us how they manage their kids’ sensory sensitivities — and avoid tears and sensory meltdowns when the world gets loud and bright. Does your child have sensory difficulties? Share your sensory-safe s ..read more

Sensory overload — that explosive phenomenon that’s sparked when the senses take in more information than the brain can process — may befall anyone. But for neurodivergent people, heightened sensitivity may trigger an avalanche of sensory information and a greater chance of overstimulation. Here, women with ADHD share their experiences with sensory overload — its causes, fixes, and feelings. Do you have your own sensory overload story? Share it in the comments section below. “Sounds like people belching, audible yawning, people chewing food, and squishy sounds when people vigorously wash their ..read more