ADHD & Inattention

Supporting a child with ADHD can be invigorating, exhausting and rewarding! In this new Voices of Compassion podcast episode, we dive into the unique strengths of ADHD and explore actionable strategies parents can use to help their child thrive. In conversation with CHC experts, Danna Torres and Karly Crockett, we unpack how to channel their creativity, energy, and problem-solving skills. How can you turn ADHD challenges into opportunities for growth? Whether you're navigating school struggles or looking for ways to boost focus at home, this conversation offers practical advice to make life smoother for both parents and kids.

Being an adolescent girl can be hard – add learning challenges and giftedness – and everything seems to be amplified. In this podcast episode, we welcome guest, Dr. Lisa White, Psychologist at The Summit Center, who works with twice exceptional girls, as we discuss how these remarkable individuals perceive themselves and navigate school and life. You’ll gain valuable insights about twice exceptional girls and hear some strategies for nurturing their strengths and addressing their specific needs. Dr. Lisa sheds light on the unique experiences of twice exceptional (2e) girls with practical tips for parents looking for ways to provide support to them.

Along with its challenges, ADHD also brings unique strengths. Those strengths are often overshadowed by challenges, so in today’s episode we want to shed light on the strengths! In this episode we explore these strengths and how understanding strengths can transform the way we think about ADHD and how we can support our students with ADHD. We talk with CHC psychologists, Dr. Marjan Ebadi and Dr. Dylan Stewart, who share their knowledge and experience with us. Educators, parents and anyone interested in empowering students with ADHD will find valuable insights and strategies for maximizing the potential of these amazing youth.

In a world where ADHD is often overshadowed by its challenges, this episode offers a refreshing perspective that focuses on uncovering its strengths. Listen now for an insightful conversation with Ross Loofbourrow, a millennial who not only lives with ADHD but thrives! Through Ross’s lived experience, we gain a unique vantage point that highlights the importance of understanding and harnessing the inherent strengths of ADHD all while navigating its inevitable challenges. Ross shares his journey with ADHD openly with personal insights and stories offering a firsthand account of how ADHD has shaped his life in unexpected and empowering ways.

Our brains are not fully developed until the mid-20s, so it’s no wonder that our adolescents still need help with the all important executive functioning skills. In this episode, we talk about the often underestimated yet pivotal aspect of cognitive growth: executive functioning in teens. Tune in as our guest host, Natalie Tamburello, discusses executive functioning with Dr. Sharmila Roy, and Stacey Soderquist both from The Schwab Learning Center at CHC. They talk about real-life scenarios and the impact of executive functioning skills on our ability to complete a task, plus how we can nurture executive functioning skills to empower adolescents to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. They also explore the role of organizational tools and communication techniques in enhancing these cognitive abilities.

ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder among U.S. children and adolescents, leading to differences in attention, impulsivity, energy and behavior. All of this can be disruptive to a child’s school and learning experience as well as their social-emotional wellbeing. There is no cure for ADHD, but there are treatments available to reduce the impact of these brain differences on a child’s functioning. How do you know what will work best for your child? Join us for today’s podcast episode as CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services experts Bayan Jalalizadeh, MD, licensed psychiatrist and Liberty Hebron, LPCC, licensed clinical counselor, dive into the research behind ADHD and options for treatment.

When you hear a sound, how do you respond? You might choose to ignore it or investigate its source. This process of using our senses to interpret a situation and respond in a purposeful way is called sensory integration. When these systems don’t synthesize, whether due to a diagnosis like autism or ADHD or to a skills deficit, it can lead to a whole host of learning and behavioral challenges. Studies have found that 1 in every 6 children has sensory processing issues that make it more difficult for them to thrive in school. In today’s podcast episode, we sit down with CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services Occupational Therapist, Pamela Olson, MOT, OTR/L, to learn how best to support our child’s sensory skills development and what to do when things don’t seem quite right.

In today’s Part 2 episode, we continue the conversation with CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services expert, Dr. Glen Elliot. If you are a parent of a child with ADHD, you’ll be glad to hear that “there truly is light at the end of the tunnel.” Persistent, loving, unconditional support, effective interventions and adapting to your child’s evolving needs can lead to really positive outcomes. Dr. Elliot speaks with experience on all fronts: as an accomplished researcher, writer and practitioner on the subject, and the parent of an adult son with ADHD. Listen today as he shares his wisdom on the different types of ADHD, behavioral interventions, medication considerations and other strategies for supporting your unique child.

Do you ever wonder if your child might be missing some key developmental milestones? Are you seeing some behaviors or delays that give you cause for concern? As a parent, it can be hard to know where to turn and how to figure out next steps. In today’s podcast episode, I sat down with Sarah Knepper, MEd, Educational Services Manager at EBC School and the mother of two young boys, one with disabilities. Sarah shares her parenting journey — from the initial “pit in my stomach” and the shame she felt on the playground, to the validation of a diagnosis and finding the right supports for her son. Sarah’s perspective as both a mom and an educator is filled with “aha” moments, compassion and authenticity.

Parenting expert, author and educator, Julie Lythcott-Haims is well-known for her words of wisdom and encouragement. But in today’s podcast episode — for the first time — we are invited to listen in on a heart-to-heart conversation between Julie and her 22-year-old son Sawyer, about his journey with ADHD and their family’s road to acceptance. Sawyer bravely shares stories of his diagnosis, his anxiety, his decision to take a year off from college and the importance of his parents’ understanding. We hear Julie, not just as an expert, but as a mom in the moment, discussing the mistakes she’s made along the way, what she’s learned and how she and her partner are finally becoming the “parents their son deserves.” This is one you won’t want to miss — it’s special from start to finish.

In this episode, we talk candidly about what parenting a child with ADHD is really like — the challenges, joys, worries and wonder. How do you know when it’s time to get help? Is medication necessary? What kind of impact will your child’s behavior have on the rest of the family? While we may sometimes wish that our kids came with an instruction manual, remember that you are doing the best you can and so is your child. And you are not alone. Tune in today to hear from Lauren Sims, the mom of a child with ADHD, as she shares her real-life personal journey filled with encouragement, empathy and strategies to set your child up for success.

Your child has just been diagnosed with ADHD…now what? Part of you might feel relieved that there’s an explanation for your child’s behavior, while another might feel overwhelmed by the prospect of parenting a child with attention challenges. ADHD is a lifelong journey filled with wonderful surprises and extraordinary obstacles. How can you best equip your child for happiness and success? In today’s podcast episode, one of CHC’s foremost and beloved ADHD experts, Dr. Glen Elliott, offers sage advice as both a parent and a professional. You’ll walk away with valuable insights, practical suggestions and evidence-based words of encouragement.

ADHD is challenging enough under normal circumstances, let alone in a pandemic. Between working from home and distance learning, both students and adults can experience feelings of isolation, loneliness, distraction and boredom. Important tasks can get overlooked or ignored without the typical structure and oversight of the office or classroom. We sat down with Ross Loofbourrow, an adult with ADHD who’s learned to embrace his differences as strengths and tap into his hyper-focus in a positive way. Ross believes ADHD is a superpower: in this episode, he’ll not only explain why, but share tips that may just make you feel the same way.

It’s hard to see our child struggling in school without comparing them to other kids or wanting to “fix” them. But once we recognize that there is no such thing as average, we can learn to appreciate our children’s differences, understand their challenges and foster their strengths. Today’s podcast guest, Dewey Rosetti, is a parent of a child with dyslexia and the author of a new book, Parenting Bright Kids who Struggle in School. She shares her experiences as a mom, an author and an advocate for the 1 in 5 with learning differences, and offers advice for parents to help develop and celebrate their children's unique strengths.

After nearly a year of remote learning, parents have a window into their child’s learning style like never before. As a parent, you may have observed some behaviors that make you wonder: does my child have a learning or attention difference or is it just Zoom-fatigue? We sat down with Chris Harris, MEd, an expert in learning, social-emotional, behavioral and attention challenges, to find out. In today’s podcast episode, Chris tells us what behaviors might be cause for concern and offers concrete action steps to support and advocate for your child.

Today’s podcast highlights a few favorite excerpts from some of our previous episodes, including Top 3 Mindfulness Strategies to Reduce Stress (Episode 5), Best Strategies for ADHD & Distance Learning (Episodes 8 & 9), Family Dynamics While Sheltering in Place (Episode 11) and more. We hope it brings a smile to your face and perhaps even makes you want to go back and listen to the episodes that resonate most.

Distance learning is a challenge for us all, especially those with learning and attention issues. In this episode, we continue our conversation with CHC’s Chief Psychiatrist & Medical Director, Dr. Glen Elliott, and learn strategies to help kids with ADHD mitigate distractions and maximize the motivation to learn. Be sure to catch Part I of this episode if you haven’t already!

Distance learning is a challenge for us all, especially those with learning and attention issues. In this episode, CHC’s Chief Psychiatrist & Medical Director Dr. Glen Elliott discusses the ADHD brain through the lens of distance learning.