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UT Grad Overcomes Substantial Learning Disabilities To Get Degree

Link: UT Grad  History major Clayton Tauscher is achieving his goal of getting a college degree, but he's had a long list of hurdles to overcome. Clayton was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old, then later ADHD, as well as other learning and speech disorders. "All the specialists and the people that we encountered said that Clayton would never get this far, and he's gotten this far, and I'm just incredibly proud of him," Clayton's father Karl Tauscher said. Clayton started going to the Pediatric Language Clinic on the UT campus, then worked his way through several different schools. He was among the first graduates at Grace Christian Academy in 2005. Clayton is now among GCA's first students to achieve a college degree.

Tourette Syndrome And ADHD Frequently Occur Together

Link: Full Article  The most disabling aspect of Tourette syndrome is that in 90% of cases, it exists in conjunction with another disorder. The most frequent co-occurring condition in people with Tourette is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), though the cause of this association is uncertain. Having one disorder can be disabling enough, but having two means coping with more than twice the disability.

New research published in the April 13 edition of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics by University of Calgary and University of Toronto researchers looked at nearly 400 children with Tourette syndrome to try to understand the connection between these two disorders. Their findings show that while Tourette and ADHD have a major genetic component, there are potentially preventable perinatal factors that increase the risk of a co-occurring diagnosis of ADHD in children with Tourette.

Students With A.D.H.D -- Easing the Transition to College

Link: Transition  The transition from high school to college is tough for most students. But for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, university life poses a host of academic, medical and personal challenges. Students with A.D.H.D. struggle to stay focused on their studies and to meet the organizational demands of schoolwork.

Although some children appear to outgrow the disorder as they age, doctors say that as many as two-thirds have symptoms that persist into adulthood. Medications help, but students need a support system of family, teachers and friends.

Last year, The Journal of Pediatric Nursing published a report in which college students with A.D.H.D. recounted the role family members played in their academic success in high school. Mothers made flash cards, gave them books on tape, proofread papers and helped them prioritize. Even school friends would tap them in class if they “zoned out.” When teenagers leave for college, that personal support system disappears. To ease the transition to college, plan long before arriving on campus.

ADHD Organization Help: 9 Strategies for Stress-Free Evenings at Home

Link: 9 Strategies Homework, dinner, bedtime — weeknights are tough on everyone. Use these road-tested tips to smooth the everyday routine for children with ADHD who need organization help.

sciencedaily.com: Inconsistent Performance Speed Among Children With ADHD May Underlie How Well They Use Memory

Link: sciencedaily.com
ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2009) — Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show more variable or inconsistent responses during on ‘working’ or short-term memory tasks when compared with typically developing peers, a study by UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute Julie Schweitzer has found.

arstechnica.com: Hyperactivity helps ADHD boys with memorization

Link: arstechnica.com
Hyperactivity could be more than a simple byproduct of inattention in those with ADHD; it might actually help children focus on difficult tasks that require working memory.

sciencedaily.com: Hyperactivity Enables Children With ADHD To Stay Alert: Teachers Urged Not To Severely Limit That Activity

Link: sciencedaily.com
ScienceDaily (Mar. 9, 2009) — A new University of Central Florida study may explain why children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder move around a lot – it helps them stay alert enough to complete challenging tasks.

artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com: Living in an A.D.D. World: Lisa Loomer Talks About ‘Distracted’

Link: artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com
In Lisa Loomer’s new play “Distracted,” Cynthia Nixon portrays the mother of a child who may or may not have attention deficit disorder. The play, which is running Off Broadway at the Laura Pels Theater in a production of the Roundabout Theater Company, begins as Mama tries to quietly meditate, only to be interrupted by the screeching voice of her demanding child.

sciencedaily.com: Underlying Sleep Problem Linked To Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder In Children

Link:sciencedaily.com
ScienceDaily (Mar. 2, 2009) — A study in the March 1 issue of the journal SLEEP suggests the presence of an intrinsic sleep problem specific to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and supports the idea that children with ADHD may be chronically sleep deprived and have abnormal REM sleep.

greatschools.net: Financial Help for Parents of Kids with LD and AD/HD

Link: greatschools.net
Raising a child with a learning disability can be expensive. Learn about resources that might help defray some of the costs.