Thanks for your patience during our recent outage at scalar.usc.edu. While Scalar content is loading normally now, saving is still slow, and Scalar's 'additional metadata' features have been disabled, which may interfere with features like timelines and maps that depend on metadata. This also means that saving a page or media item will remove its additional metadata. If this occurs, you can use the 'All versions' link at the bottom of the page to restore the earlier version. We are continuing to troubleshoot, and will provide further updates as needed. Note that this only affects Scalar projects at scalar.usc.edu, and not those hosted elsewhere.
ADHD: Alternative Treatments Main MenuADHD: The Fact and the FictionThis project is intended to make connections between media portrayals of ADHD and their impacts on alternative treatments such as neurofeedback, behavioral therapy, parent training, and diet-alteration therapy.ADHD MedicationsToday, the use of ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall is still the most popular treatment method for ADHD. Let's explore the adverse side effects of the medications, which are a reason alternative treatments have been gaining more attention recently.Common MisconceptionsHow YOU Can Avoid Parent ShamingThis page is designed to promote an active learning style for parents to avoid feeling shamed by media surrounding ADHD. The media often uses fear and anxiety to shame parents into trying treatments they are not comfortable with or spreading false information. I will teach you how to spot these things and avoid them!NeurofeedbackBehavior TherapyBehavior therapy is the most common alternative treatment for ADHD. It is currently recommended as a supplement to drugs but some parents believe that this treatment alone may be just as effective as a supplementation.Parent TrainingDiet RestrictionDiet restrictions are gaining popularity as an alternative treatment for ADHD. The Feingold Diet has stood out as a diet that improves behavioral issues with manipulation of diet.About MeKaty McCarthy52d4dc2d6cf99de1642c9855dd2bae6c30ec3e42
12017-04-16T16:34:21-07:00Who Has ADHD?9Is ADHD prominent in one gender or race over the other? Find out here.plain2017-04-17T13:35:18-07:00ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in young, caucasian boys between the ages of 4 and 12. Although ADHD has not been found to be gender or race specific, the way it is presented in this group of children is the most disruptive and in line with the stereotypes that surround the disorder.
General Stereotypes: -Unable to sit still -Unable to follow instructions -Disruptive in the classroom -No control over emotions (often anger) -No interest in social activities -Bad grades -A BOY'S disease -A CHILD's disease
These stereotypes are the reason that ADHD is often diagnosed in large numbers and that many children who may need treatment for their symptoms are not receiving it because they do not "fit" into the traditional stereotype of ADHD.
For example, girls with ADHD tend to be more inattentive and quiet, not disrupting the class but not focusing and learning to the best of her capabilities. This often goes undetected by teachers, parents, and doctors alike because the symptoms do not suggest a traditional ADHD candidate. In my dataset, 36% of my sources mentioned a difference in ADHD between boys and girls. While this may seem like a high amount, it is astonishing to me that all of the sources did not mention the differences in symptoms because they are so variant across genders.
ADHD is often characterized as a child's disease as well. All of my data sources discussed ADHD as a disease of a child and few mentioned adult ADHD. 36% mentioned adulthood ADHD which is interesting to me because ADHD is not something that is simply outgrown and children with ADHD grow up to be adults with the disorder. I think the common misconception that ADHD is a child's disease may hinder the abilities of adults with the disorder or ADHD-like symptoms to seek treatment because they feel they are too old to be dealing with it.
