Dr Brendan Belsham

29/05/2019

My top ten tips for managing teenagers with ADHD:

1. Expect ADHD to 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 into adolescence; it usually does.
2. Respect your teenager's need for (and right to) 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 regarding their treatment; keep the dialogue open.
3. Expect 𝗰𝗼-𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 in youth presenting with other conditions, especially anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
4. Doctors should have a high index of suspicion for 𝐟𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬; more and more non-ADHD youth are looking for short-cuts to assist with their studies.
5. Consider the possibility that ADHD may 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 in adolescence, especially in girls.
6. Educate parents and children about the dangers of 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧; research suggests a bidirectional relationship between ADHD and excessive media use.
7. Piggy-back on the adolescent trait of 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞; use the carrot more that the stick.
8. Educate young people about the value of cardiovascular 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲, which enhances the brain's executive functions, reduces stress and improves sleep.
9. Emphasise the importance of a good night’s 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩; 78% of those with ADHD have sleep disturbance, which further compromises academic functioning the next day.
10. Do whatever you can to 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 with your child. Adolescents naturally gravitate away from their parents and towards their peers. If those same parents are constantly reprimanding them, this gap becomes a chasm and the teenager may look for acceptance in the wrong places.

04/02/2019

For those who are interested, I will be discussing medications in childhood at the Sierra hotel in Randburg next month.

17/09/2018

For those who are interested, I will be part of an ADHD panel discussion on Kyknet (DSTV channel 144) tonight at 10pm

22/08/2018

There is much to be said for the idea that higher functioning autistic children are different rather than disordered, and as such deserve to be accommodated within the framework of mainstream education, rather than ‘fixed’ or ‘normalised.’ After all, it wasn’t too long ago that left-handed children were regarded as disordered… and look where that got us!
Read more at www.drbelsham.com/blog

21/06/2018

I think there is still space available for those who are interested...

04/03/2018

03/03/2018

...and for those with terminal insomnia, I will be on Cape Talk this Monday morning 04:45, on the topic of ADHD and bullying

01/03/2018

Should be an interesting evening, for those who are interested...

15/09/2017

It is well-established that parents of ADHD children are particularly stressed and experience dissatisfaction with their parenting. In clinical practice it is also common for parents to question their role in their child’s symptoms, and to seek out behavioural and other non-pharmacological approaches to treatment. Discover why parenting matters in ADHD, at www.drbelsham.com/803-2

16/07/2017

It is well recognised that rates of ADHD diagnosis have been increasing in recent years. For example, 2013 data from the Centre for Disease Control in the United States revealed that 11% of children between the ages of 4 and 17 had received the diagnosis of ADHD compared to 5% in the early 1990’s. Theories abound as to what might underly this trend, including better recognition of the condition and misdiagnosis of other conditions which might present with inattentiveness. But contemporary societal factors have also been implicated, notably the tendency for young children to spend greater amounts of time on electronic devices such as television, tablets and smart phones. Read more at www.drbelsham.com/blog

19/06/2017

I think there are still spaces available for those who may be interested in this workshop...

22/03/2017

For those who are interested, I will be discussing Autism (and Asperger's Disorder) this coming Saturday morning 9am, on the SABC current affairs show Health Talk (DSTV Channel 404)