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ADD also called ADHD is a national health crisis that continues to grow. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of boys and 11% of girls are being diagnosed with it. Even though it is now being diagnosed more frequently than ever, it remains one of the most misunderstood and incorrectly treated illnesses of our day. ADD often has a powerful negative impact on a person’s ability to do well in school. In fact, studies show that as many as 33% of kids with ADD never finish high school (3 times the national average). If you look at the following list of hallmark symptoms of this neurobiological disorder, it is easy to see why: Students with ADD are often not identified by their schools as needing assistance and end up falling through the cracks. However, after years of receiving complaints from parents, the U.S. Department of Education just released new guidelines intended to prevent schools from discriminating against the ever-increasing population of students with ADD. Furthermore, the guidelines direct school districts to identify students with ADD and provide appropriate accommodations to assist them in being successful in school. Additionally, the guidelines entitle parents to ask that their child is evaluated by their school district. As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Department of Education’s assistant secretary for civil rights, Catherine Lhamon, was quoted as saying, “The failure to provide needed services to students with disabilities can result in serious social, emotional and educational harm.” Identification of the disorder is just the first step. ADD, like many other conditions, is not just a single and simple disorder; therefore, treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution. With more than 125,000 brain scans in our database, we have identified 7 types of ADD—and each requires a different treatment plan because of the diverse brain systems involved. What works for one person with ADD may not work for another—or could even make the symptoms worse! When properly diagnosed, kids and teenagers with ADD & ADHD can heal and live a happy life. Amen Clinics has helped tens of thousands of people with ADD from all over the world and can help you, too. To learn more or schedule a comprehensive evaluation, contact the Amen Clinics today or call 888-288-9834. There are many people who feel anxious, depressed, impulsive, or prone to anger, and they think the problem is “all in their head” or purely psychological. However, one of the clearest things we at Amen Clinics have found in our research is that these problems often do have a biological basis in the brain. We are talking, of course, about adult attention deficit disorder (ADD), which is also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although ADD is a large umbrella of symptoms that can be most often noticed in those children bouncing off the wall in the doctor’s office, we often forget that hyperactivity is just the most visible effect of a much more complicated disorder. There are many different types of ADD, and they aren’t all quite as obvious as the screaming child running laps in the parking lot. In fact, at Amen Clinics, we prefer the name ADD, as ADHD highlights the hyperactive component of the disorder (H) and discards half the people who have it, particularly females, who are typically not hyperactive.

Myth #1: Children outgrow their ADD problem by adulthood

Fact: While ADD is most often diagnosed in children, for two-thirds of them the disorder persists into adulthood. Over the past few decades, the conversation on mental health has grown and more adults with the disorder are now being diagnosed. ADD is highly heritable, and adults often are diagnosed for the first time when they bring their child in seeking help. However, there is no such thing as adult-onset ADD. These adults have often been living their entire lives unaware, but with the constant feeling that their brains worked a little differently. Just because these adults haven’t been identified as ADD until later in life, doesn’t mean they haven’t been living with the disorder’s effects. Treating adult ADD starts by understanding the disorder itself and the effects it has on you and those around you, in order to begin succeeding with ADD, not in spite of it.

Myth #2: ADD is just an excuse for the habitually distracted and disorganized

Fact: There is a difference between an excuse and explanation. Just like anyone else, ADD adults have to hold themselves accountable; they are skilled and often incredibly creative people who are capable of great things. However, they cannot deny the effects the disorder can have on their lives. We have scanned tens of thousands of brains and seen the clear differences in brain function between an adult with ADD and an adult without it. Among the many signs, lower blood flow to key areas such as the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s decision maker) and lower levels of adrenaline are often seen in ADD adults, causing them to sometimes be impulsive or craving excitement. Knowing this can help you understand this complicated disorder, and act to explain rather than make excuses, taking steps to minimize the challenges adult ADD presents. Amen Clinics has helped tens of thousands of people with ADD/ADHD from all over the world. With targeted treatment, you CAN change your brain and change your life. If you feel that you or a loved one could benefit from an evaluation, contact the Amen Clinics Care Center today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online today. At Amen Clinics, we knew about the NFL concussion problem 25 years ago, simply because we were looking at brains. We quickly learned these tragic facts: even mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can ruin someone’s life, and the underlying impact of TBI on mental health problems is missed because most doctors don’t look at the brain.

Undiagnosed concussions and TBIs are a very serious problem.

They are a major cause of psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and panic disorder along with homelessness, domestic violence, divorce, and suicide. Furthermore, untreated brain injuries can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Although we have heard about the NFL concussion crisis in the media over the past several years, this issue was brought into the spotlight when the movie, Concussion, starring Will Smith, was released. The story features the work of Dr. Bennet Omalu, who more than a decade ago, identified the physical brain pathology of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Dr. Daniel Amen was a consultant on this very important film and highly recommends seeing it because it will really help you understand the devastating, long-term impact that head trauma has on the individuals who suffer from its consequences.

How Do You Know Unless You Look?

Because we look at the brain using brain SPECT imaging, many people with a history of TBI come to Amen Clinics for evaluation, including professional athletes. In fact, Dr. Amen is the lead researcher on the first and largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study on NFL players. This research not only demonstrated high levels of brain damage in players, but also showed the possibility of significant recovery for many of them using the principles that underlie our work, including nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. We apply these same principles for brain health to all patients with TBI. As inferred above, one of the most prevalent conditions we identify with SPECT is previously undiagnosed TBI. All too often concussions are not taken very seriously unless a person has noticeable symptoms shortly after one occurs. Many times, clinicians do not know to ask their patients about a past history of head injuries. However, we think it is very important to ask them multiple times in multiple ways because people often forget or dismiss such incidents as inconsequential, but they all matter – even sub-concussive events. If you don’t already have your own set of questions for assessing a history of head injury, consider using ones like these: Given the magnitude of people suffering from known TBIs as well as undiagnosed concussions, it is really important to take the time to assess for them. With the proper treatment, people can get better and live more balanced and productive lives. Contact us today at 888-288-9834 to see how we may help, or schedule a visit today. Are you tired of hearing people say that ADD/ADHD isn’t real, and that people with it just need to try harder? As you probably know, that’s just not true. ADD/ADHD is real—we can see it in the brain.

Here are 5 facts about ADD/ADHD:

1. ADD has been described in the medical literature for over one hundred years. In 1902, pediatrician George Still described a group of children who were hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive. 2. ADD is found in every country and has been studied. We’ve seen patients from Ethiopia. One who had been expelled from his tribe for being easily distracted and impulsive. 3. Many people with ADD are never hyperactive. The non-hyperactive or inattentive ADD people are often ignored because they do not bring enough negative attention to themselves. Many of these children, teenagers, or adults earn unjust labels: “willful,” “lazy,” “unmotivated” or “not that smart.” Females, in our experience, tend to have Type 2, Inattentive ADD, and it can be devastating for their daily life. 4. The harder many people with ADD try, the worse things get for them. Brain imaging studies show that when people with ADD try to concentrate, the parts of their brains involved with concentration, focus and follow-through (prefrontal cortex and cerebellum) shut down—just when they need them to turn on. 5. Ineffective parents or teachers cannot cause a child’s ADD. However, ADD behaviors can make even the most skilled parents and teachers appear stressed and inept.

Does Your Child Suffer from ADD?

If you suspect that you or your child might have ADD, don’t wait to get help. Effective treatment does not make those with ADD different people: It removes the barriers hindering them from being the people they already are and allows them to reach their potential. We like to think of effective treatment for ADD like glasses for people who have trouble seeing. The glasses do not change the person; they just make the person’s vision more effective.

We Can Help

Imaging changes everything. At Amen Clinics, we can help you and your loved ones overcome the stigma and suffering associated with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, brain injury, weight loss, addictions, memory issues, brain fog, and other emotional and cognitive issues. If you are ready to regain control over your life or help a loved one do the same, give us a call at 1-888-288-9834 or click here to ask a question. Research detailed in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics indicates that children with mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and ADD/ADHD are more likely to have a moderate disability than children without ADD/ADHD.

What Research States

Patient records of 48 children with ADD/ADHD who had sustained a mild TBI were compared to a control group of 45 age-matched patients without ADD/ADHD who had also sustained a mild TBI: • 25% of the patients with ADD/ADHD demonstrated a moderate disability and 56% were completely recovered within an average follow-up period of 24.9 weeks • 2% of the control group without ADD/ADHD demonstrated a moderate disability and 84% were completely recovered within an average follow-up period of 7.2 weeks.

What a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Tells Us

According to these findings, children with ADD/ADHD who sustain a mild TBI experience a greater level of disability and need (on average) more than three times as long to recover. These findings beg the question: Are rehabilitative efforts less effective for children with ADD/ADHD and TBI? With this question in mind, the study authors make the following recommendations: • Rethink letting children engage in sports and hobbies with increased risk of sustaining a TBI (football, soccer, hockey, boxing, cheerleading, riding a bike without a helmet). • Physicians treating mild TBI cases in children with ADD/ADHD may need to adjust treatment plans, as more intensive treatment and longer rehabilitation may be required. • Families of children with ADD/ADHD with mild TBI should be counseled accordingly about expected outcomes. More evidence that the brain is both delicate and resilient!

We Can Help

At Amen Clinics, we can help you and your loved ones overcome the stigma and suffering associated with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, brain injury, weight loss, addictions, memory issues, brain fog, and other emotional and cognitive issues. If you are ready to regain control over your life, give us a call at 1-888-288-9834 or click here to ask a question. An exciting study from MIT, published in the journal, Brain, looked at brain activity differences using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in adults who had recovered from typical childhood ADD/ADHD and those who had not.

What Does This Mean?

The study participants were scanned in a resting, or unfocused state to reveal the basic functional architecture of the brain. Researchers looked for activity differences within the default-mode network: a network of brain regions that are active when the brain is not focused on visual stimuli from the outside world. The default-mode network is believed to generate spontaneous thoughts during daydreaming; its activity is associated with self-reflective thought, retrieving memories, creativity, envisioning the future, and gauging others’ perspectives. Researchers found that adults who had recovered from childhood ADD/ADHD showed a distinctive synchrony of activity in the default-mode network. “Their brains now look like those of people who never had ADHD,” said Aaron Mattfeld, the study’s lead author.

ADD/ADHD

Those who still had ADD/ADHD did not show synchrony within the default-mode network—meaning they stayed in daydreaming mode—perhaps contributing to intensified problems with forethought and judgment. Additionally, when people without ADD/ADHD perform tasks that require focus, the default-mode network is automatically suppressed while the task-positive network takes over, allowing the person to successfully carry out goal-oriented tasks. If this reciprocal relationship degrades, the ability to focus declines.

The Research Findings

The MIT researchers will use these fMRI findings to investigate how medications act on the brain’s default-mode network, in effort to better target treatment for the 40% of ADD/ADHD people who do not respond well to the first drug they receive. Yet again, the use of brain imaging has paved the way for more targeted treatment plans for people with ADD.

We Can Help

Learn more about signs of ADD in adults and take our free online ADD questionnaire to determine if ADD is likely, and if so, what type. ADD is not a single or simple diagnosis and no one treatment method will work for everyone. At Amen Clinics, we can help you understand how your brain works and will work with you to create a targeted, more effective treatment plan that goes beyond the use of stimulant medications alone. Call us at 1-888-288-9834 or click here to ask a question. What do think of when you hear the word “stress?” Probably something negative. And, yes, stress is, like so many things in life, a two-edged sword in the sense that, in some settings, stress keeps us alert and enhances some aspects of performance. Yet chronic stress is the dark flip side, and typically arises in situations involving emotional pressure, which an individual feels they have no control over or escape from.

Chronic Stress & Bullying

For many people, chronic stress begins in childhood with being bullied. Scientists have discovered that getting picked on, or bullied, not only impacts emotional and social functioning, but can also have biological consequences that stretch into adulthood.

What Research Says

In fact, in a multi-university study, researchers found that c-reactive protein, a biomarker (or telltale biological signal) of low-grade inflammation, was significantly higher in individuals who had been bullied and remained so into adulthood. Elevated c-reactive protein is a risk factor for various chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. As most of us know from our own school days, children who “stand out” in any way are appealing targets to bullies. Among those who attract the attention of bullies are classmates with ADD/ADHD. In an article titled Bullying at School: Is Your ADHD Kid a Victim?, child psychologist Steven Richfield noted that, “It is heartbreaking to learn that your attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) child has become the victim of a bully. And unfortunately, some children are at greater risk of being bullied because of their ADHD. An inappropriate, or impulsive remark blurted out for the entire class to hear can attract the attention of a bully. And an impulsive retort by the ADHD student to a bully’s provocation may escalate the situation.”

ADD & Bullying

Amen Clinics has spent decades studying and analyzing ADD, and has helped many children with the condition who have been bullied. We have found that impulsive outbursts by those with ADD oftentimes serve as a way for them to get an emotional reaction out of others, sometimes angry, that provide them with needed brain stimulation. Of course, no child with ADD truly enjoys or welcomes being bullied or stressed out. The solution? Get a handle on the ADD; that is, change and heal the sufferer’s brain. It is important to note that ADD is not a single brain problem with a “one size fits all” remedy.

We Can Help

At Amen Clinics, we can help you and your loved ones overcome the stigma and suffering associated with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, brain injury, weight loss, addictions, memory issues, brain fog, and other emotional and cognitive issues. If you are ready to regain control over your life, give us a call at 1-888-288-9834 or tell us more online. Why does it seem like there are never enough hours in the day? From day to night, work to family, personal goals, and endless to-do lists, we’re a nation of on-the-go people. We all want to be more productive, but that requires more focus and more energy, especially with a child with ADD.

Here are 10 positive ways to guide behavior of ADD children:

1. Relationship is key.

With a good parent-child relationship, almost any form of discipline will work. Relationships require two things: time and willingness to listen.

2. Teach children from your own real–life experiences.

3. When a child meets your expectations, be sure to notice him or her.

If you never reinforce good behavior, you’re unlikely to get much of it.

4. Notice the behaviors that you like in your child ten times more than the behaviors you don’t like.

This teaches them to notice what they like about themselves, rather than grow up with a critical self-image.

5. Children live up to the labels we give them.

Be careful of the nicknames and phrases you use to describe your children.

6. Never discipline a child when you’re out of control.

Take a time-out before you lose your cool.

7. Remember the words, “firm but kind.”

Try to balance them at the same time.

8. Have swift, clear consequences for broken rules, enforced in a matter-of-fact and unemotional way.

Nagging and yelling are extremely destructive, ineffective, and tend to be addictive for the ADD child.

9. Do not yell at, hit, or berate an ADD child.

The more emotionally intense you get, the more they will make you get emotionally intense.

10. Parents need time for themselves.

Parents who are drained do not have much left that is good for their children.

We Can Help

ADD is not a single or simple diagnosis and no one treatment method will work for everyone. At Amen Clinics, we can help you understand your brain and create a treatment plan that is targeted to your brain’s unique needs. We have identified 7 types of ADD—and each requires a different treatment plan because of the diverse brain systems involved. Each of the ADD subtypes has its own set of symptoms as a result of the abnormal blood flow patterns in the brain, but for the most part, they all share the same core symptoms. To learn more about ADD/ADHD, you can begin with our ADD Type Test. Take the 4-minute confidential test to discover you, or your loved one’s ADD Type and get a personalized overview on what to do about it. Our Care Center is experienced in addressing your concerns and helping get you or your loved one on the path to wellness. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or tell us more online to schedule an appointment. Comprised of around 80% water, the brain is very soft, with a consistency similar to soft butter or custard. It’s protected by a hard skull and surrounded by fluid, yet there are many bony edges and ridges inside the skull; some of them as sharp as knives. These ridges can easily damage the brain during head trauma.

Sports & Your Brain

We must reiterate that your child’s brain was not created to withstand all the bell-ringers and hard knocks from tackle football, soccer headers, and hockey, among others. If you love your child’s brain, and especially if you have a child with ADD or learning problems, please educate them about risk-prevention and if possible, don’t let them play these brain-injuring sports. The symptoms of a brain injury can be very similar to the symptoms of ADD or ADHD, therefore it’s most important to get a proper diagnosis when you notice that something is wrong.

Unquestionable Proof

Not only did we conduct the world’s largest study on brain damage in NFL players, more than 4,500 former players sued the NFL, seeking concussion-related compensation and alleging that the NFL concealed the risks of long-term brain damage. The settlement was $765 million dollars – yet the NFL will neither admit liability nor that the players’ injuries were caused by football. From 2009-2012, Amen Clinics performed the world’s largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study on active and retired professional football players because we had a high suspicion that many players suffered with the effects of chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The results of our NFL study were very clear:

• A very high percentage of our players had evidence of TBI patterns on their SPECT scans and showed symptoms of it – there was a high rate of depression, dementia, obesity, and ADD-like symptoms among them. • 81% of the players complained of attention problems and showed concentration problems on the psychological testing that we performed. The good news came from the second part of this study, where we taught players how to care for their brains and gave them specific nutritional supplements. • 80% of our players experienced significant benefit, including improvements in mood, attention, motivation, and sleep. This shows that even those who have suffered brain injury can still have hope – as there is a very high potential for recovery on a brain-smart program.

Treatment is Possible

Nobody knows exactly how many blows to the head it takes to cause problems, yet studies have shown that it takes longer for children to recover from a second concussion if it follows soon after a first, and that once someone has a concussion they’re more likely to experience more. Many brain injuries go untreated because the person did not lose consciousness, so keep an eye out for these symptoms and seek medical attention right away if you suspect trauma: • Feeling drowsy or having a hard time waking up. • Not thinking clearly, feeling spacey, or acting confused. • Headache or the feeling of pressure in the head. • Memory and mood changes.

We Can Help

At Amen Clinics, we want to help you and your children heal brain injuries before they affect your life. Call us today at 888-288-9834, or tell us more about your concerns. Research has found that men diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood have significantly worse functional outcomes as adults compared to men without the disorder.

Why?

Since functional outcomes are defined as “the cost of ADHD in terms of real-life adaptations and managing the demands of adulthood”, these findings really emphasize the importance of identifying ADHD symptoms in patients of all ages.

What Research Says

A 33-year follow-up study conducted by investigators at the Child Study Center at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City showed that men who were diagnosed with ADHD as children had worse educational, occupational, economic, and social outcomes compared with non-ADHD comparison participants. Led by Rachel G. Klein, PhD, the researchers also found higher rates of divorce, ongoing ADHD, antisocial personality disorder, and substance use disorders as well as more hospitalizations and incarcerations.

The Findings

“Our findings confirm that men diagnosed with ADHD as children had multiple disadvantages throughout their lifetime,” Dr. Klein said in a statement. “It’s essential that we monitor children with ADHD through adolescence and continue to treat them to help offset issues that can extend into adulthood,” she added. To examine the long-term outcomes in this patient population, the investigators followed 135 men who were diagnosed with ADHD at a mean age of 8 years and a comparison group of 136 men not diagnosed with childhood ADHD. The average age at follow-up was 41 years. At 33-year follow-up, results revealed that only 3.7% of affected men had academic degrees higher than high school diplomas, compared with 29.4% of comparator control participants. Further, those with ADHD as children also had lower occupational status levels and relatively poorer socioeconomic status compared with control participants.

Men with Childhood ADHD

Men with childhood ADHD also had higher rates of ongoing ADHD, at 22.2% vs 5.1% for the comparison group. The authors note, however, that ADHD symptoms in the comparison group may have emerged during adulthood. Both antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse disorder were also more frequent in men with childhood ADHD. However, the groups did not differ in the frequency of ongoing mood or anxiety disorders. “Difficulties with substance use, academic underachievement, and relationship issues — all of those are already there in adolescence, so it speaks to the importance of addressing these problems in adolescence because they have lifelong consequences,” said Dr. Rostain. He noted that one of the issues not addressed in the study was how much treatment ADHD men received and what percentage of patients continued treatment at any point in time. In fact, these men were diagnosed in the 1970s, when it was believed stimulants were addictive, so treatment with stimulants was discontinued by the time the children reached adolescence, he noted.

How We Can Help

If you or a loved one is suffering from any of the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, The Amen Clinics Method of integrative psychiatric care can help. Using innovative and personalized care, our outcomes consistently demonstrate improvement for patients – including many who have tried and failed prior treatment. Our Full Evaluation of your biological/psychological/social/spiritual history, coupled with two brain SPECT imaging scans (at rest and at concentration), cognitive testing, and clinical assessment is designed to address your unique needs and offer targeted treatment options. We invite you to call today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online to schedule a visit.