Q: I've heard about a new product that teachers can use to send vibrations to kids in classrooms who are not paying attention. Do you think that this is a good way to manage ADHD in the classroom?

A: The product that you are referring to is called "Good Vibrations" and NO, we do not think it is a good way to manage ADHD in the classroom. In essence, you put a radio wristband on the child in question. The teacher can shock the child back into focus with a "transmission unit" which teachers keep at their desk that sends a "gentle vibration".

There are lots of ways to manage ADHD in the classroom - putting children near a teacher can be helpful, making sure they get their assignments written down, and connecting with parents to discuss the child's progress and needs all are supportive ways of promoting growth for kids with ADHD. Vibrating them to pay attention would be embarassing and distracting, at best. Potentially abusive at worst.

Q: I'm wondering if you have any recommendations for ADD-friendly organizing systems or books that have good advice on how to manage staying on track.

A: Each person has to create their own system, depending upon their specific needs. However, this month's ADDitude Magazine suggests 7 resources for adults and kids dealing with ADD. Go to this link to get their ideas.

Q: I feel as if I'm in a battle every morning with my teenager to get her out of bed. Do you have any suggestions?

A: First, it's important to make sure that you don't turn every morning into a power struggle. It sets a really miserable tone for the day. If you are yelling at her or ripping off her sheets, you may also be unwittingly communicating a lack of respect, something that you want to make sure you don't do.

If your teen is older, make sure she understands the consequences of being late (tardies at school that result in detention / having to ride a bike to school). Consider helping in supportive ways (making breakfast that she can run out the door with, for example) and ask her to put our her clothes the night before so she has few decisions to make in the morning that might further slow her down.

ADDitude Magazine recently featured some fun alarm clocks designed to physically get a teen out of bed, as well. Some of these actually move or fly around the room, forcing a teen to chase them to shut them off...for a list of a few fun ones, go to the review at ADDitude at the link below!

Caroline Maguire, the Hallowell Center coach for children and their parents, offers parents seven tips for helping their child succeed this school year. She prefaces these suggestions with a reminder that every child is different, and each family must come up with a way that works for them. Kids and parents need to create a plan and set goals together.

1. Evaluate what went well last school year, i.e. gains, improvements in certain courses and sports, and what needs to change. These could include study habits, managing tech time, being more organized, etc.
2. Get a wall calendar and write down all major long term assignments, school commitments, sporting events, and out-of-school activities. Use different colors to paint a holistic picture so both parent and child can see priorities and how all activities interact.
3. Set up homework start time - select a mutually agreed upon time to relax and to get things done, i.e. 2:15-4:00p.m. free time, 4:00-4:30 piano lesson, 4:30- 5:00 piano practice, 5:00-6:00 free time, 6:30-8:00 homework time.
4. Have a technology use schedule, i.e. 4:30- 8:00p.m. computers, game boys off, etc. Internet use for homework only if supervised by parent. Put the PC in a common place to help monitor how it's being used.
5. Set up a reward system for putting off gratification. Daily rewards can be more techie time or time with friends. Agree upon a reward system that will work for the both of you. Spell out how it will be executed - who will check homework or is the honor system sufficient? Make sure the terms are clear and specific.
6. Organize a study space, a distraction free zone where your child can do his/her work best and where they'll have all the tools to do their work.

Editor's note: Caroline can be reached at the Hallowell Center in Sudbury, MA at 978-287-0810.

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Hallowell is opening a medical center in New York City, on the upper west side. The newest Hallowell Center can be found at 117 West 72nd St between Amsterdam and Columbus.

Dr. Hallowell, and his partner Dr. Bergerson, will be seeing patients in this office, probably two days a week each. They have also hired a staff of New York area clinicians about whom they are very excited who will be available 5 days a week.

The New York Hallowell Center will use a strengths- based approach to treatment and offer both standard and complimentary approaches (i.e. medication, coaching, behavioral and cognitive therapies, individual, couples and group counselling, school consultations, nutritional support and more).

To make an appointment, call them at 212-799-7777. You can also find out more by visiting their web site at the link below.

Consistent Rules Can Effect Changes in Preschoolers with ADHD - Lehigh University psychologist George DuPaul has recently announced that simple structuring techniques can help preschoolers suspected of having ADHD cope with their ADHD early on.

While only a small fraction of children have ADHD (around 5-8%), DuPaul pursued this research because, according to the AP, "We know ADHD carries long-term risks, including difficulty in school and making friends. Wouldn't it make sense to intervene as early as possible?"

The five-year study was funded by the NIH, and studied a range of behavioral therapies. It found that stressing consistent rules and routines and giving more praise for good behavior rather than punishment for bad was very helpful. A year after parent training, agression and other behavior problems decreased by about 30%.

In case you think that these sound useful for any child, you are right. Both the control group (non ADHD) and the ADHD group benefitted equally well.

ADHD Awareness Day is September 19th - Take a moment to spread the news a bit about what a gift ADHD can be for those who have learned to unwrap it! If you have a teen, ADHD Awareness Day might be an occasion for giving "Positively ADD", written by Dr. Hallowell and Catherine Corman. It tells the stories of 17 people who love having ADHD and why...but it also tells of their struggles. An inspiring book for many.

Dr. Hallowell and I have started our new blog, "Thoughts on ADHD and Marriage" and invite you to sign up to receive the blog entries as they are posted. We hope that you'll be inspired to look at your own marriage to better understand what you can do to thrive, even if one or both of you has ADHD.

email: morlov@hallowellconnections.com

phone: 508-545-2250 Hallowell Connections or 978-287-0810 Hallowell Center (medical)

web: http://www.drhallowell.com