Developmental/Behavioral Disorders

For years, researchers have raised concerns about acetaminophen use during pregnancy, now a new study that used cord blood to measure acetaminophen levels at birth links the commonly used medication to later ADHD and autism diagnoses.

Girls with ADHD are six times more likely to be teen moms, according a new report.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a study published by Department of Health and Human Services that examined whether children enrolled with Medicaid who had an ADHD diagnosis received the recommended followup care.

I have been asked by parents several time regarding the use of a cannabidiol (CBD) product to calm their aggressive autistic children when other medications have not been effective. It would be tempting to recommend CBD/THC products to help parents in this regard, but my concerns about safety as well as efficacy have dissuaded me from doing so.

'Building a medical home for children with autism' describes the importance of establishing a medical home in a pediatric office for children with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and discusses five major management strategies for the successful management of children in the medical home.

For a child with a developmental disorder, the pathway from screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to diagnosis of ASD to lifelong care takes place in the child’s medical home.

Elopement and wandering are serious problems for families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here are practical ways primary care providers (PCPs) and families can work together to keep their children safe.

Maternal smoking has been linked to later development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring in many studies, but a recent report shows that heavier smoking increases the risks even more.

Research suggests a family history of mental and neurologic disorders may increase risk factors for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in a child.

Talk to patients and their families about the benefits and risks of stimulants before initiating treatment in children with ADHD.

Mental health is a critical component of pediatric overall health. Early recognition of subtle signs and symptoms of mental health problems followed by immediate treatment is an equally critical element to ensure the establishment of normal mental health throughout development.

Although digital media isn’t proven to cause attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers are now linking self-reported ADHD symptoms in some teenagers to heavy social media and other digital media use.

The early years in an infant’s life set the stage for building one’s ability to learn. Pediatricians play a pivotal role in providing early intervention for any factors that might affect a child’s school readiness and future life course.

A new study examined whether nonpharmacologic interventions for ADHD could support new guidance for their use.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a prospective population-based cohort study published in JAMA Pediatrics that examines whether a link exists between early preterm birth and the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A new study reveals that folic acid supplementation in mothers treated for epilepsy during pregnancy had children who were more likely to display autistic traits.

This month I offer some observations on developmental disorders-ADHD and autism.

Dr. Bass’ recent article in Contemporary Pediatrics, “Personalized medicine, right drug, right patient, right time,” provides a miniature but profound view of what may be the future of pediatric healthcare: focusing on healthcare that is truly individualized through precision science in the areas of diagnosis and treatment, rather than generalized, population-based treatment guidelines.

The premise is to use a patient’s own genetic information to guide decisions for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and other health conditions.

Despite recommendations from federal overseers that universal autism screening has little benefit, experts in autism remain steadfast in their belief that early screening and intervention improves outcomes.

Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 9 years is associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), according to an analysis of data for 1572 children who are part of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) birth cohort.

Like typical children, children with intellectual disabilities or autism will toilet train at different rates and with different strategies. For some families, this can be a frustrating and depressing time. Discussing the use of positive rewards and avoiding punishment will help these parents slowly make progress. Here is a detailed program to help patients achieve continence.

Incontinence can be a common problem for children with significant developmental disabilities, impacting where they can go and who needs to go with them; leaving them at risk for neglect or abuse; leading to infections and poor skin health; even affecting vocational plans or future housing. Yet toilet training is still possible for these children.

A follow-up trial conducted 6 years after the conclusion of a randomized controlled trial of early intervention in autism spectrum disorder demonstrated that the intervention had a long-term effect on autism symptoms and continued effects on parent and child social interaction.

A longitudinal study examined the relationship between prenatal or postnatal high-fat, high-sugar diet and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children who demonstrated either early-onset persistent conduct disorder or minimal conduct problems.