Facebook Live Series: Managing ADHD At Home in ADHD, General.
Tagged With: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , COVID-19, Dr. Dilip Karnik
Join us on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. CT
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented change and stress. To help support our families during this time, we have launched a series of video broadcasts streamed live on Facebook about various topics that impact our patient families. You can access our past videos here.
The next Facebook Live event will focus on COVID-19: Managing ADHD At Home. Dr. Dilip Karnik, board-certified pediatric neurologist with Child Neurology Consultants of Austin, will address families' questions such as:
What is the difference between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD)?
How do you medically manage ADHD during COVID 19?
My child has anxiety and OCD. How can I help her during COVID 19?
Stay tuned for additional Facebook Live events featuring our other pediatric neurologists. Follow us on Facebook at @ChildNeuroTX to learn more.
If you have questions you'd like to address or topics you'd like our physicians to cover, send us a message via Facebook or email your provider through the patient portal.
Facebook Live Series: Managing Kids' Headaches and Migraines
Join us on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. CT
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented change and stress. To help support our families during this time, we are launching a series of video broadcasts to be streamed live on Facebook about various topics that impact our patient families.
The next Facebook Live event will focus on COVID-19: Managing Kids' Headaches and Migraines. Dr. Lindsay Elton, board-certified pediatric neurologist with Child Neurology Consultants of Austin, will address families questions such as:
How can I balance headache management and school/sleep schedule?
Can I still give acetaminophen and ibuprofen for headaches or fever?
What are some tips for managing a migraine at home?
What if my child's migraine is severe and we need emergency care. Is it safe to go to the hospital?
Join us on April 29 at 5 p.m. on our Facebook page @ChildNeuroTX.
Stay tuned for additional Facebook Life events. The next one scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 at 5 pm will focus on COVID-19: Managing ADHD at Home with pediatric neurologist, Dr. Dilip Karnik.
About Dr. Lindsay Elton
Dr. Lindsay Elton is a board-certified child neurologist and serves as the medical director for child neurology at St. David's North Austin Medical Center. She previously served as the associate program director of the child neurology residency program at Dell Medical School at UT Austin,. Additionally, she is a member of the Education Special Interest Group of the Child Neurology Society and regularly attends meetings of the American Headache Society to stay up-to-date on the latest developments pertaining to kids and adolescents. You can read more about Dr. Elton by clicking here.
Facebook Live Series: COVID-19 and Epilepsy
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented change and stress for families particularly those with children who have neurological issues or autoimmune disorders. To help support our families during this time, we are launching a series of video broadcasts to be streamed live on Facebook about various topics that impact our patient families.
The next Facebook Live event will focus on COVID-19 and Epilepsy. Dr. Karen Keough, epileptologist with Child Neurology Consultants of Austin, will address families questions regarding their child's epilepsy. Some topics she will discuss include:
Are people with epilepsy at higher risk of developing COVID-19 (coronavirus)?
Will my child's epilepsy get worse if they get Covid?
Should we change any of our medications because of Covid?
What should we do if our child suffers a seizure?
We'll cover other topics in future Facebook live events. Look for broadcasts on:
Managing Headaches and Migraines at Home
ADHD and Learning at Home
About Dr. Karen Keough
Dr. Karen Keough is a Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Pediatrician and Child Neurologist / Neurophysiologist. She earned her bachelor of science in psychology at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and also studied molecular biology at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. She earned her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed her pediatrics residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, where she also served as chief resident.
Following her residency, Dr. Keough pursued a fellowship in pediatric neurology at Duke University. After spending three years in the Air Force as a child neurologist, she completed an additional fellowship in electroencephalography and epilepsy at Baylor University School of Medicine. She then returned to Wilford Hall Medical Center to serve as director of epilepsy services and chief of child neurology.
Dr. Keough initiated the child neurology residency program at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, Austin and maintains a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor. Additionally, she holds the position of chair of the Child Neurology Society's Educational Special Interest Group, and serves on the Neurology Child Examination Committee for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Dr. Keough founded and functions as co-director of the Tuberous Sclerosis Center in Austin, and also acts as operations director for Child Neurology Consultants of Austin's outpatient clinic. Her primary clinical focus is refractory epilepsy, though she continues to participate actively in the general child neurology hospital service to work with trainees and maintain her edge for treating other clinical neurologic conditions.
In 2017, Dr. Keough was named Chief Medical Officer for Compassionate Cultivation and Austin, Texas-based company licensed to grow, process and dispense cannabidiol medicine.
Facebook Live Series: How We Are Supporting Patients During COVID-19
To kick off the series, on April 15 at 5 p.m. CT, Dr. Jeffrey Kane, medical director of Child Neurology Consultants of Austin, will provide a brief introduction about what our practice is doing to help families during this challenging time and to address some frequently asked questions. Some topics he'll discuss:
I'm worried about going to the emergency room at this time. What should I do if my child has a seizure?
Are children with neuroimmune or autoimmune disorders at higher risk for acquiring COVID-19? Should we continue treatments?
My child has ADHD and we're struggling with homeschooling. Do you have recommendations to keep him focused?
How can I help my child with headaches during this time?
Join us on April 15 at 5 p.m. on our Facebook page @ChildNeuroTX. Or, visit the video library at ChildNeuroTX.com after April 16.
Epilepsy, Seizure Disorders and COVID-19
ADHD and Homeschooling
About Dr. Jeffrey Kane
Dr. Jeffrey Kane is the founder of Child Neurology Consultants of Austin (CNCA), the largest independent medical group in the region dedicated to helping children with neurological and rheumatology conditions. Prior to CNCA, he served as section chief of child neurology for Pediatric Specialty Services at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.
Dr. Kane's medical education and training includes: internal medicine rotation at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas; pediatrics internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and child neurology residency, followed by a neurophysiology fellowship at Children's Medical Center of Dallas.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Kane
How is ADHD Treated?
These days, it's common to know someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. A friend's child. Your child's classmate. A family member. Even an adult coworker.
More than 17 million people in the U.S. are currently living with ADHD. A person with ADHD has unique issues with their brain activity which makes paying attention or focusing more challenging. Sometimes it can lead to impulsive actions, sleep issues, anxiety, and learning/developmental disorders.
While there is no cure for ADHD, there are treatment options available to successfully manage symptoms and improve your child or teenager's functionality in his or her daily life.
ADHD is one of the most common conditions our pediatric neurologists diagnose and treat here at Child Neurology Consultants of Austin.
What are the most effective ways to treat ADHD in children and teenagers?
There are two types of ADHD medications, stimulant and non-stimulant. Stimulants are more commonly prescribed yet, have hadsome controversy over the years. However, advances in the way the drugs are delivered in the body have vastly improvedmaking them safer than previous years, says Dr. Dilip Kanik, a board-certified pediatric neurologist at Child Neurology Consultants of Austin.
He says sometimes when he prescribes medications he encounters reluctance from parents and for good reason. "I get it. Who would like to put a child on medication? But the earlier you can treat a child, the better the long-term outcome," said Dr. Karnik.
He warns parents, too, that medication is not a quick fix. "Medication is absolutely not a magic bullet."
Working with a licensed behavioral therapist can help children learn how to redirect their actions when they become distracted,veer off task, or have the urge to act impulsively. For some children with milder forms of ADHD, behavioral therapy will be the first line of treatment.
Customized tactics: Nutrition, School, Anxiety
Many parents of kids with ADHD also praise the benefits of dietary eliminations and/or supplements to help manage symptoms. Things like sugar, food dyes, and gluten may be triggers for somechildren, while Omega-3 Fatty Acids to boost brain power and probiotics to flush out harmful gut bacteria may also prove to be helpful.
The research is unclear as to whether ADHD symptoms can be managed through diet changes, however, if you find that your child's symptoms fare better with certain restrictions or supplements,then by all means, continue on that course.
Dr. Karnik also recommends working with the school on certain accommodations to create an optimal learning environment. And don't ignore other underlying issues.
"Many children may also suffer from anxiety which must be considered in the treatment plan," said Dr. Karnik.
He says when it comes to ADHD each child is unique. What works for some children may not be as effective for others. Use your intuition, speak to your child's teachers and caregivers to observe positive and negative changes. Most importantly, says Dr. Karnik, "Trust your instincts."
If you suspect your child or teenager may be suffering from ADHD, or you have questions about their current treatment plan, please contact Child Neurology Consultants of Austin for an appointment with one of our specialists.
Child Neurology Consultants of Austin has experience treating a wide range of neurological disorders in children from 0 to 21 years old and offers three convenient clinic locations to best serve you in Austin, South Austin, and Cedar Park.
ADHD: What to know from Dr. Lindsay Elton in HealthCentral
How much do you know about ADHD? There's a fair chance that someone in your immediate circle is affected by it. According to a recent study in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), roughly one in ten children and teens in the U.S. face challenges of this common neurodevelopmental disorder. The CDC also says that about five percent of U.S. adults struggle with it.
ADHD is typically characterized by three main behaviors/symptoms including inattention (easily distracted), hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Child Neurology Consultant of Austin's board-certified pediatric neurologist Dr. Lindsay Elton recently served on a professional panel to break down the basics of this neurological condition for an article in HealthCentral.
Here are some of the key questions Dr. Elton helped answer for readers:
When and how should I seek an ADHD diagnosis for my child?
If you notice by the time your child is six years old that they are displaying symptoms of ADHD, it may be time to contact your pediatrician. If your pediatrician is unable to make a diagnosis, seek guidance from an educator at your child's school or a licensed mental health professional such as a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist or clinical social worker who specializes in ADHD in children and teenagers.
What other conditions often go hand-in-hand with ADHD?
Those with ADHD also frequently meet the diagnostic criteria for another mental health issue. When discussing your child's diagnosis, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about additional screenings for learning and developmental disorders, autism, anxiety, sleep disorders, Tourette Syndrome, depression, bipolarity, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
How is ADHD best treated?
Dr. Elton says that the best plan for treating ADHD is with a 360-degree approach encompassing multiple therapies and input from several parties including parents, physicians, and teachers. "Skills in areas like organization and time management, learning how to behave appropriately in school and social settings, along with prescription medications are all valuable tools to help ease symptoms of your child's ADHD and help them succeed."
In addition to ADHD and autism, Child Neurology Consultants of Austin also has experience treating a wide range of other neurological and rheumatic disorders in children and teenagers from 0 to 21 years old. For an appointment with one of our specialists, or to learn more about our services, please contact us here.
Brain Injury and ADHD Link?
Could there be a link between a TBI (traumatic brain injury, like a concussion) suffered early in childhood and ADHD later on? New research hints that may be a possibility.
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that young children hospitalized with a head injury may be at a greater risk for developing ADHD after recovery.
ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders in kids characterized by social and behavioral issues as well as inattention, distractibility, and sometimes hyperactivity.
This particular study on the subject evaluated 187 children (3 to 7 years of age) who were briefly hospitalized for either a TBI or another serious injury. None of them had ADHD at the time of injury.
• Over the course of the seven-year study, 48 children (or 26%) developed symptoms of ADHD.
• Those with a TBI were more than three times likely to develop ADHD as those with another type of injury.
• 62% of kids who developed ADHD showed signs of it within the first year after injury.
While experts say this was an extremely small study, and more research is necessary, it indicates there is a strong link between a brain injury early in life affecting its cellular and structural development down the road.
If your child has suffered a concussion, it's important to be vigilant about recovery efforts and monitor their brain function closely in the time following injury.
"Even after it appears your child has sufficiently healed, and they are given the okay to return to school, sports, and other activities, continue to watch out for any strange behavior," cautions one of Child Neurology Consultant's concussion experts, Dr. Michael Reardon. "If you notice they are growing forgetful, having trouble focusing, withdrawing from others, or acting out in any way, discuss this with your doctor right away."
Knowing the signs to look for in initially spotting a TBI or recognizing challenges after recovery are paramount to proper treatment for the brain that is so delicate during these early childhood years.
If you have concerns about your child's experience with a TBI and ADHD, please contact us for an appointment with one of our specialists.
(Adapted from Reuters)