Assessment
The use of VR in predicting age-related cognitive decline
Davison, Deeprose and Terbeck (2018) conducted a study to compare immersive virtual reality (VR) assessments with traditional assessments of executive function. It is well established that normal and pathological ageing are associated with decreased executive functioning. Hence, a large body of research has been dedicated to charting cognitive decline as it progresses with age in…
Read MoreChildhood ODD: A Precursor for Adult Alcohol Dependence
Childhood ODD: A Precursor for Adult Alcohol Dependence Dr Shelley Hyman Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is characterised by negativistic, defiant, disobedient and hostile behaviours which lead to impairments in everyday life. Many family attributes are associated with high levels of oppositional behaviour in children (such as poor parenting practices and child abuse), and this behaviour…
Read MoreSensory processing in ADHD
Sensory processing in ADHD Dr Shelley Hyman Sensory modulation is the ability to take on the sensory input in the environment and regulate and organise it in a way that can ensure “an optimal range of performance and adaptation to challenges can be maintained.” Mangeot and colleagues (2001) looked at whether children with attentional deficit-hyperactivity…
Read MorePitfalls in ADHD diagnosis
Pitfalls in ADHD diagnosis Dr Shelley Hyman Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has been considered one of the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorders in children according to researchers. It is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. The large number of children being diagnosed with ADHD may be due to the fact that they are being misdiagnosed…
Read MoreGiftedness versus ADHD? Potential misdiagnosis.
Giftedness versus ADHD? Potential misdiagnosis. Dr Shelley Hyman A child who is gifted shows similar behaviours to a child who has ADHD. This includes high activity levels, difficulty paying attention, difficulty following rules and difficulty persisting at a task. However, what is different is that children who are gifted tend to only show these behaviours…
Read MoreDiagnosing ADHD too early? Risk factors.
Diagnosing ADHD too early? Risk factors. Dr Shelley Hyman According to the criteria for diagnosing ADHD, a child must present a number of symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity or hyperactivity before the age of 7. However, studies have shown that only 50% of patients present these symptoms before 7 years of age. (Kessler et al.,…
Read MoreADHD & learning disabilities: Implications for diagnosis
ADHD & learning disabilities: Implications for diagnosis Dr Shelley Hyman Attention Deficit/hyperactivity disorder share many symptoms with Learning Disorder. In fact, up to 70% of children with ADHD also have LD (Barkley, 1994). This can be an important issue when it comes to diagnosing children with ADHD because they may have symptoms that look like…
Read MoreADHD & Sleep: Implications for treatment
ADHD & Sleep: Implications for treatment Dr Shelley Hyman Associations of sleep disturbance with ADHD: implications for treatment. In August 2014 Hvolby published an article about the association between ADHD and sleep which raises many interesting questions about the assessment and treatment of ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with disordered or disturbed sleep.…
Read MorefNIRS Imaging & ADHD
A Review of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Studies of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Neurological Activation Patterns. Wiley & Riccio, 2014 In September 2014 a literature review was published investigating the current state of research using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging methods in evaluating neurological activation patterns of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) populations. The primary application of NIRS…
Read MoreVisual issues and ADHD misdiagnosis
Visual issues and ADHD misdiagnosis Dr Shelley Hyman Visual issues are now being shown to be a common factor unlying the misdiagnosis of ADHD. This has been largely ignored in paediatric assessment with many paediatricians referring for basic eye sight tests (of acuity), but not checking actual eye alignment and occular motor functioning. There are…
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