ADHD Resources

31 10, 2022

ADHD Interventions: How ADHD Or Executive Function Coaching Can Fit In

By Diane Sottile PhD|2022-10-27T19:35:28+00:00October 31st, 2022|

When parents decide that they need to seek help for their child who has ADHD or executive function challenges, they have a lot of decisions to make. Where do parents get help? Who do they ask? What help does their child need? The choices are varied, so the process can add even more stress to an already difficult situation. ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder. Individuals with ADHD have an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with daily life. ADHD may also result in difficulties with executive functions - the mental processes used for planning and execution. There are three types [...]

8 08, 2022

IEPs, 504 Plans, and College Accommodations Explained

By Diane Sottile PhD|2022-08-01T15:45:24+00:00August 8th, 2022|

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash For K-12 parents, your child may have been granted an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or a 504 plan. These are two different protocols that both intend to provide the services and resources that best match a student’s specific academic needs and allow them to have access to an appropriate education. If your child is enrolled in college, accommodations may have been granted through the Office of Disability services. Here is a quick overview on all 3 processes. Individualized Education Plan (IEP) The IEP is provided under the Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA). An IEP is [...]

15 06, 2022

Create an ADHD Summer Practice For You and Your Child: 5 Summer Strategies for Children with ADHD and Executive Function Deficits

By Diane Sottile PhD|2022-06-15T01:34:38+00:00June 15th, 2022|

The school year has ended and the fun of a long summer break awaits. A break from homework and school will be great for your child and may bring you both a sense of relief. However, parents of children with ADHD and executive functioning deficits may also find themselves worrying that their child will lose certain skills that they have improved during the year. But there is no need for parents to worry. Students with ADHD and executive function deficits can use the summer to continue to work on and learn new strategies that can lead to their future success. During the school year, [...]

1 06, 2022

Are You Prepared For Your Child’s IEP Meeting? – Here is a checklist

By Diane Sottile PhD|2022-06-01T19:52:32+00:00June 1st, 2022|

It is time for your child’s annual IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting. While these meetings can often be a standard renewal of the modifications and accommodations granted under the IEP, remember that this is your opportunity to ask questions and express concerns. Let’s start with the purpose of the annual IEP meeting. Once your child has an IEP, a review meeting is held once per year, usually in the spring. Although IEPs can be reviewed and revised anytime throughout the year, most IEPs are reviewed annually in the spring. It is at this meeting that your child’s team [...]

17 09, 2020

Your Child has ADHD: Don’t Try To “Fix” Things

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-09-17T01:44:05+00:00September 17th, 2020|

When your child is diagnosed with ADHD or executive function deficits, it is natural to try to jump in and "fix" things for them. This is a common reaction. It’s tough to see our children struggle. After all, one of our primary tasks as parents is to protect them from harm. As parents, we often jump at the ready to save our children. Here is the thing, there is nothing that needs to be fixed or saved. Children with ADHD or executive function deficits perform differently, but this does not mean that their way is wrong. There is no right way for [...]

5 06, 2020

Distance Learning and ADHD During the Pandemic: What Are the Takeaways?

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-09-29T23:57:21+00:00June 5th, 2020|

The pandemic has certainly turned the world upside down. With schools across the nation just completing their first try at distance learning, parents have had to deal with challenges they could never have imagined. Working from home while managing their children's schooling has certainly been overwhelming for some parents. For parents of children with ADHD or executive function challenges, there are added levels of concern. This is especially true if the parents also have ADHD. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that just about everyone is looking forward to the day when schools can re-open. I think we’re all hoping that [...]

22 02, 2020

25 Facts About ADHD in Students That Parents Should Know

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-28T04:15:47+00:00February 22nd, 2020|

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V), there are three types of ADHD: predominantly inattentive type (formerly known as ADD); predominantly hyperactive-inattentive type; combined type In order for a person to be diagnosed with ADHD, very specific criterion must be met. The criteria is listed here. The prevalence of ADHD has increased in recent years: A 2016 study show 6.1 million children in the US have been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is not a boy only disorder: 1 in 7 boys are diagnosed and 1 in 11 [...]

30 09, 2016

ADHD: 5 Back to School Tips for Parents

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:47:09+00:00September 30th, 2016|

Every year, when school begins, I write an ADHD blog on how your child should prepare for school. This year, I decided to turn the tables: let’s talk about how YOU can manage the school year. You know those commercials where the parents dance along in the school supply store while the child is looking miserable? I would watch those commercials with a little bit of envy. As a parent of a child with ADHD, I wished I could be excited about the new school year. For parents of children with ADHD, the “back to school” thoughts may look [...]

12 07, 2016

10 Summer Tips for Adolescents/Teens with ADHD

By Diane Sottile|2020-02-25T02:47:59+00:00July 12th, 2016|

It is mid-summer! Where did the time go? It has been a nice break for both of you from homework, getting to school on time, or any other struggles that your child may experience. But, as the school year approaches, you may find yourself worrying that your child is losing valuable time to work on skills. No need to worry. Students with ADHD can continue to work on strategies that can lead to success in the coming school year. Here are 10 tips for summer skill-building: LEARN SOMETHING FUN Think science camp, art camp, or other places where fun and learning are [...]

1 06, 2016

Mindfulness, Meditation and ADHD

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:48:49+00:00June 1st, 2016|

I am a big fan of the television show Mad Men. One of my favorite moments on the show (SPOILER ALERT) was the season finale. The series ends with Don Draper in a yoga pose at a New Age camp in California. He smiles, and for the first time in the duration of the show, he looks happy. We have come a long way since the 1960s. There is probably not a day that goes by that I don’t read something about mindfulness. The movement that started 35 years ago is now mainstream. Mindfulness and meditation are practiced by [...]

11 05, 2016

ARE YOU A “TAKE AWAY” PARENT?

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:49:40+00:00May 11th, 2016|

“Can I PLEASE have my phone back?” Have you ever taken away your ADHD child’s phone, computer, or tablet? You are not alone. Parents often use this tactic. Why? There are many reasons. Here are just a few: As a form of punishment Because the child is spending too much time on screens As an incentive to complete a task The data overage charges are costing a fortune As an ADHD coach, I see many parents confiscate screens. When a student tells me the phone or other screen has been taken away, I always ask, “What do you have to do to get it back?” More often than not, the answer is “I [...]

26 04, 2016

WILL THE TIDE REALLY TURN FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS?: A View From An ADHD Coach

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:50:54+00:00April 26th, 2016|

As an ADHD coach, I often get calls from parents of high school juniors. These parents are extremely concerned about their children’s academic performance and their ability to get into college. Junior year is difficult for any high school student. This year is no doubt a marathon of endurance. College is suddenly a reality. Extra time must be devoted to studying for the myriad of standardized tests. Grades really matter. College visits begin. As a parent of a junior myself, I find it all overwhelming. Imagine what it must be like for the student! For the ADHD student who struggles with organization skills, time management, procrastination, and focus, junior year can be the perfect storm. When I [...]

12 04, 2016

HOMEWORK AND ADD/ADHD: What is the Parent’s Role in Elementary School?

By Diane Sottile|2020-02-25T02:51:49+00:00April 12th, 2016|

Here it is – that awful word! HOMEWORK! So often dreaded by students. If a child has ADD/ADHD, homework can be more than just an annoyance. It can be a source of stress, frustration, and self-esteem issues. When a parent sees their child struggling with homework, the natural inclination is to jump in and help out. But, sometimes, the help turns into more than just assistance. Despite the best of intentions, parents can soon find they doing more than assisting. They may be carrying the heavier burden and they watch helplessly as their child becomes overly reliant on [...]

17 02, 2016

ADHD and Girls: It’s not only about boys

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:52:31+00:00February 17th, 2016|

ADHD is often thought of as a boys’ disorder. While the percentage of boys who are diagnosed with ADHD is greater than for girls, it is by no means a disorder only for boys. In December 2015, The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry published a study on the prevalence of ADHD [1] The researchers in this study found a 43% increase in the prevalence in all children from 2003 to 2011. Notably the prevalence of ADHD in girls was the most dramatic – an increase of 55% from 4.7% to 7.3%. Why then do we often still consider ADHD for [...]

17 01, 2016

Getting Back Into the School Mindset: Create an ADHD Success List

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:53:14+00:00January 17th, 2016|

Returning from an extended school break can be a drag for students with ADHD. Challenges with organization, prioritization, management, focus, or procrastination make it hard to look forward to going back to school. How can you change this type of thinking? Instead of looking at the return to school with foreboding, try changing your mindset and look at it as a fresh start. There is still plenty of time in the school year to make changes and take the first steps toward managing your ADHD. An effective method for dealing with ADHD in school is to establish routines and habits that will eventually [...]