NEW YORK, July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Is it possible to diagnose preschool children, who are normally impulsive, very active and not yet skilled in cooperative behavior, with attention deficit disorder? How do you know when behavior crosses the line and it's time to get help?
The August/September issue of ADDitude magazine helps parents understand when to seek professional answers to these questions. "Children with ADHD (attention deficit disorder) are much more extreme than the average three- year-old," according to Alan Rosenblatt, M.D., a Chicago-based specialist in neurodevelopmental pediatrics. "It's not just that a child with ADD can't sit still. It's that he can't focus on any activity, even one that's pleasurable, for any length of time."
In a significant piece of new research, the Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS), conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, concludes that treating these symptoms in preschoolers with parent effectiveness training, behavioral therapy and, in extreme cases, low doses of medication can be highly effective.
The article, "Preschoolers and ADHD," is posted on ADDitude magazine's Web site, http://www.attitudemag.com/, along with links to the PATS study, newsletters with helpful information for parents, related articles and comments by readers. One parent, commenting on the Web site, shares how early diagnosis "changed everything" for her family, adding that, in the process, both she and her husband discovered they also have ADHD.
The August/September issue, on sale at bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Borders beginning August 7, also features ADDitude's annual "Success at School" handbook, a set of articles offering parent -- and teacher-tested tips for helping ADHD children make the most of the school year. Included in this year's edition: a checklist of important things to do before school starts, a list of 10 conversations to have that will help your child succeed, and nationally renowned author and pediatrician Perri Klass's advice for getting homework done without tears.
Readers will find these articles and more wrapped in a new ADDitude design. The editors reorganized and redesigned the magazine to make articles easier to find and key points easier to remember and save. The new ADDitude also includes more tips and participation from readers. For example, in one new section, readers rate innovative alarm clocks on their ability to rouse the impossible-to-wake child.
ADDitude and http://www.attitudemag.com/ are designed to provide a gathering place for the growing community of families living with ADD/ADHD and to help them lead successful lives at home, work and school, according to Susan Caughman, founder of parent company New Hope Media. Both contain practical guidance, new research findings and interesting features about people meeting the challenges posed by attention deficit disorder. Like the magazine, the Web site was recently redesigned to better meet the information needs of ADD parents and professionals. "Our mission is to help people acquire the depth and breadth of knowledge they need to make informed decisions and enjoy fulfilling lives," said Caughman. "The new Web site is an invaluable tool for nonprofessionals as well as experts in the field."
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, clinically known as ADHD but better known as ADD, is a brain-based disorder that affects 3 percent to 7.5 percent of American school children, or at least two billion boys and girls, according to the American Psychiatric Association and other sources. ADHD persists into adulthood for many: More than four percent of adults are affected, according to research conducted jointly by Harvard University and the World Health Organization. Symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and learning problems that can have far-reaching consequences in both personal relationships and professional life.
New Hope Media, LLC, based in New York, N.Y., was founded in 2000 by former Time Inc. executive Susan Caughman. The publishing company acquired ADDitude in 2003 and established it as an authoritative source of information relevant to anyone touched by ADHD presented in a consumer-friendly format. Visit the magazine online at http://www.additudemag.com/.
New Hope also publishes Adoptive Families, an award-winning national magazine regarded as an indispensable resource for families before, during and after adoption. To see the latest issue of Adoptive Families, visit http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/.
ADDitude Magazine
CONTACT: Jennifer Corrigan, +1-732-382-8898, Jenn.corrigan@comcast.net;
or Marybeth Nibley, +1-973-746-8183, marybethn@bycommunications.com, both for
ADDitude Magazine
Web site: http://www.attitudemag.com/
