"My 7-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, hasn’t learned to tie shoes yet," one parent tells us." Every time I practice tying shoes with him, he gets frustrated. Should I give up?"

While most kids learn to tie their shoes at 5 or 6, my son -- who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and a very high IQ -- didn’t learn until he was 7, going on 8. Many kids with ADD/ADHD find tying shoes challenging. It requires focus, eye-hand coordination, and an active working memory. None of these are strong suits in...
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Considering caffeine as an ADD/ADHD treatment? Caffeine can help symptoms that are associated with attention deficit -- improving concentration, energy, and work productivity -- but can it replace other treatments, such as medications?

Does caffeine work as a treatment for symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD)? How does caffeine interact with ADD/ADHD medications? Is caffeine as effective as ADD/ADHD medications or other ADD/ADHD treatments? How does caffeine affect ADD/ADHD brains? Are there any side effects ADHDers should know about? In this new ADD/ADHD video, Ari Tuckman, Psy.D., M.B.A., the author of More Attention, Less Deficit: Success Strategies for...
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"My 11-year-old seems to grasp all his schoolwork, so I try to step back and let him manage his homework, study for tests, and read for book reports," one reader tells us. "But when I do, he seems more unfocused and test scores drop. Am I trying to step back too early?"

Many students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) struggle to keep items from falling through the cracks. Talk with him about how he approaches his homework and studying when he does them by himself, and about how you may be able to help him stay on top of it all. It might be helpful if, at the end of his homework time, the two of you...
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"I asked a friend to videotape an IEP meeting involving my son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), but the school told me this is against the law," one reader tells us. "I am a visual learner, and I wanted to watch it to make sure I remembered all the points teachers made. Why can't I do it?"

Recording http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/6259.html (IEP) meetings, with a tape recorder or a video camera, is not necessarily against the law, but it requires that the school district must consent to it, and its administrators must be permitted to record the meeting themselves. Most school officials and teachers are reluctant to have such sensitive meetings videotaped. Some attorneys recommend taping a meeting, but I think it is a mistake,...
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Is attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) different for females?

Does it feel like women and girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) go longer without receiving a proper diagnosis than men and boys? That's what many of readers confessed in a recent discussion on ADDitude's new online community for ADD/ADHD families, ADDConnect. In a popular discussion post called "Is ADD Different for Women?" community member MollyMs wrote, "I am one of the last people I...
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Strengthen your decision-making skills with these tips from ADD/ADHD expert Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, who is also an adult with ADD/ADHD.

Overwhelmed by making decisions? Balk at the thought of being dealt too many choices? You're not alone. In a recent discussion topic on ADDitude's new online community for families with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), ADDConnect, several members commisterated about their difficulty making decisions. "I have trouble talking myself into going to the grocery store -- too many choices!" one reader wrote.  "I can't...
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"My ADHD child is very sensitive and craves to be part of a group at school. He tries very hard, but the other kids tend to reject him."

Rejection from peers is something all kids experience at one time or another. Unfortunately, rejection for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) is often the norm. As tempting as it may be to solve your child’s problem, first think about how the rejection is demonstrated. If it is in the form of harassment, physical abuse, or extreme verbal abuse, it must be reported to school...
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One reader asks, "How do I handle parents who stigmatize my ADD/ADHD child for his behavior? They form cliques and talk about the 'bad' kids in the class. I feel embarrassed, and I avoid socializing with them as a result."