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Raising a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) brings a unique set of gifts, rewards, and challenges. As any parent of a child with ADHD already knows, there will be good days and bad. You will struggle with difficult decisions, such as whether or not to medicate your child. Throughout your parenthood journey, you will also find alternative therapies that work remarkably well for your child’s unique needs.

Take music therapy, for example. Also referred to as “auditory stimulation,” music therapy offers several benefits to children who have ADHD:

• Music provides structure. It includes a definite beginning, middle, and end. This soothes the ADHD mind, teaching children to focus, anticipate, and react.
• Music increases dopamine levels. ADHD brains are typically low on this neurotransmitter, which regulates cognitive processes including working memory, attention, and motivation. Stimulating the brain through music can improve these functions over time.
• Music improves social skills. In addition to extensively activating the brain, music teaches children to pay attention to those around them. While collaborating with others in a choir or musical ensemble, children of all ages can learn to notice social clues, anticipate upcoming changes, and listen to what is happening around them.

Some experts might argue that the healing potential of music should come as no surprise. In his book, Musicophilia, the late author, Oliver Sacks, M.D., recounted how music has profoundly helped his patients over the years. As both a musician and a neurologist himself, Sacks explained that the brain doesn’t have one single musical “center.” Instead, we analyze music using 20 to 30 separate networks spread across all regions of the brain. Some of these networks are responsible for processing the pitch of a song, for instance, while others might process the song’s melody.

It’s also important to note that music is helpful for a plethora of conditions besides ADHD. In his own work with his patients, Sacks often noticed the benefits of music therapy for a variety of conditions affecting the human brain. These conditions ranged from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s, from autism to Tourette syndrome – just to name a few. Given that music therapy has the power to help the human brain in such deeply healing ways, it certainly doesn’t hurt to give it a try if you have a child living with ADHD.

Some ways to incorporate music into your everyday life might include:

• Turn off the television at a certain time each evening and listen to music together as a family.
• Use rhythm to your advantage. Play upbeat music in the mornings to help your family wake up and build energy. At night, switch to slow, soothing music to help your child get ready for bed.
• Play the right music. Just like rhythm, the style or genre of music is important. Certain types of music work best for children with ADHD. For instance, classical music is good for concentration while pop music can help relieve stress. Try these free playlists, which were handpicked for kids with ADHD.
• Make it collaborative. Use your child’s favorite songs, artists and styles to your advantage. Need to grab her attention? Play a Katy Perry song and sing along. Want to teach him to focus? Create a song together using a hang (handpan) drum.
• Buy an instrument. Children with ADHD enjoy being able to move while playing instruments. Instead of piano lessons, you could purchase your child a saxophone, clarinet or trumpet as these instruments provide more freedom for your child to move and groove. Before purchasing an instrument, it’s helpful to do some research. For instance, check a clarinet buying guide prior to investing in a clarinet. This will ensure you get a great deal on the best instrument for your child.

At the end of the day, all children with ADHD are unique and no single method will succeed with all children. If your child focuses better in silence, that’s okay. That being said, music therapy has indeed shown promise for many children. It is up to you to do your research, be willing to experiment, and make an informed decision about what works best for the needs of your family and your child.

Charles created HealingSounds.info. He believes in the power of music and sound as a healing tool.

Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed with ADHD, love someone affected by ADHD or simply want to learn more about ADHD it can be extremely daunting to discover the sheer volume of information that’s out there and available to you.

That’s why one of the voices of the ADHD population on the internet created the ADHD Awareness Expo – a virtual gathering of ADHD Experts, professional ADHD coaches, service providers and authors, gathered all in one virtual space to make your information gathering as easy as heading to a department store.

The 8th annual ADHD Awareness Expo was held the week of October 1st through October 7th.  It was  held virtually and the videos are still posted through the end of October!  With over 30 videos, I’m sure you will find useful information.  You’ll see one from me on essential oils.

There is even a digital goody bag with lots of free downloads.

I’d love to “see” you there! Just follow the link to register and claim your free spot to attend.

Are you ready to get started with feeling more confident and more successful?

No more excuses or putting it off. No more thinking it can’t happen. Or that we can’t be as successful as somebody else.

Success is as unique as you are. And while we each have our own definitions of what that success would look like for us, there are secrets – tools and information – that can help you get there.

Which is why I am excited to tell you about the 2016 Succeed with ADHD Telesummit where Laurie Dupar and over 20 ADHD world professionals and experts will share with you some of their extra ordinary secrets to succeed with ADHD.

Register for fre.e here.

Here’s a sneak peak at the guest experts and the topics that will be shared:

• Alan Brown of ADD Crusher – “Boost Your Outcomes with ADHD ‘Brain Scaffolding’”
• Casey Dixon of Dixon Life Coaching – “Four Steps to Mindfulness”
• Roxanne Fouché of Focus for Effectiveness – “Lead With Your Strengths for ADHD Success and Wellbeing”
• Cindy Goldrich, Ed. M. – “Help Your Kids REALLY Manage their Homework”
• Tracey Goodwin and Holly Oberacker of Navigating ADHD, Inc. – “ADHD ARTGuides™: Art Strategies for Success”
• Cameron Gott, PCC – “ADHD and Breaking Free of the Adrenaline Response Cycle” 
• Rick Green of TotallyADD.com – ““I’m Having a Bad Day.” What to do When You Feel Disheartened, Stuck, or Out of Hope.”
• Monica Hassall of Connect ADHD Coaching – “Explosive Behaviors, Executive functions and the ADHD Volcano”
• Leslie Josel of Order Out of Chaos – “Parents: Get Solutions for Student Organization!”
• Ryan Lonnett of Wristlists™– “Wristlists™: In Sight and In Mind”
• Brendan J. Mahan, M.Ed., MS – “The Wall of Awful”
• Tara McGillicuddy of ADDClasses.com and ADHD Support Talk Radio – “Combat Negativity and Thrive with ADD / ADHD”
• Kirsten Milliken of PlayDHD – “Manage ADHD the Natural Way Through Play!”
• Tom Nardone – “ADHD and Marriage”
• Miriam Reiss – “How to Have a Rockin’ Career!”
• Kelly Robinson – “Make Sense of ADHD and Executive Function Deficits”
• Rudy Rodriguez – “Say Good-bye to Clutter, Hello Peace of Mind”
• Stephanie Sarkis, , NCC LMHC – “Non-Medication Treatments for ADHD: Facts and Myths”
• Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster of ImpactADHD – “Calm and Confident Parenting – with a Coach Approach”
• Eric Tivers, LCSW of ADHD reWired – “Breaking the Silence about Productivity and Shame”


Interested? Be sure to save your seat at the Succeed with ADHD Telesummit.

Questions? No problem! Email Laurie and her team at support@coachingforadhd.com. They are happy to answer them.

Hosted by productivity coach Alan Brown, CrusherTV takes an informative and entertaining approach to improving productivity and quality-of-life for busy people.

In the video below I joined Alan in providing interesting ways to get more stuff done in less time and with less stress.

If you are interested in more great episodes from CrusherTV you can check it out at http://www.crushertv.com.  Full disclosure — CrusherTV is a members-only affair. Don’t worry, it’s only a buck to try it out — and I really hope you will!!! You can cancel any time.

This is learn-it-today-do-it-tomorrow material, and shared in a fun, interactive conversation that will be of value to individuals as well as ADHD coaches looking for fresh strategies to help their clients.

 Invest 15 minutes and listen below or at Practical ADHD Strategies.  You’ll be happy you spent the time!

Be sure to get Alan’s free eBook — 5 Things You’re Doing Every Day that Make Your ADHD Worse! — at ADDCrusher.com. And when you’re there and want to try Alan’s acclaimed instructional videos risk-free, use coupon code ROLANDS15 for 15% off any purchase!

• The average person today receives more information on a daily basis, than the average person received in a lifetime in 1900.
• Taking five minutes per day, five days per week to improve will create 1,200 little improvements over a five-year period.
• The average person gets 1 interruption every 8 minutes, or approximately 7 an hour, or 50-60 per day.
• The average person uses 13 different methods to control and manage their time.

If you’re thinking that time management courses only work for people WITHOUT the added complications that ADD / ADHD throws in the mix…

STOP RIGHT THERE!

I am partnering with ADDclasses.com to offer the 6-week Adult ADD Time Management Intensive to prove that you can manage your time!

Check out all of the details today so you don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity…

Let me know if you have any questions and register ASAP.  The enhanced version only has 15 spots available, so don’t delay!

Do you remember the freedom you felt, the confidence you gained, the pride you had when you received your first bike? The Great Bike Giveaway will help give children with special needs the same feeling you had when that shiny new bike arrived at your home.

For the third consecutive year Friendship Circle is holding the Great Bike Giveaway, a national contest giving away adaptive bikes to children with special needs. They are partnering with Freedom Concepts, Rifton, Buddy Bike, Ambucs, Triaid,Flaghouse, Mobo Cruisers and Strider Bikes to give away adaptive bikes to children and young adults with special needs.

Why The Great Bike Giveaway?

Many children with special needs miss out on the childhood joy of bike riding because their physical or cognitive limitations make riding a bicycle near impossible. The Great Bike Giveaway will give children and young adults with special needs the chance to win an adaptive bike and have the feeling of pride, freedom and confidence that bike riding brings.

How The Contest Works

Adaptive bikes are tailored to a child’s needs. To meet the needs of the recipients in this contest, a separate contest is held for each bike type. The contest starts with two bikes of each type and money is raised to add more bikes as the contest progresses. Last year the Great Bike Giveaway ran 6 different contests and gave away a total of 29 bikes! This year we hope to give away 75 bikes to individuals with special needs.

Each bike page has a space where users can enter the contest. Submit a picture of your child with special needs along with a short explanation of why your child needs an adaptive bike.

From the winner of a Parent: Judd, received his Rifton tricycle that he won through your bike giveaway. He loves it so much. His first time out with it , he pedaled .75 miles! Everyone at the track had a smile on their faces watching him enjoy his bike. The biggest smile there belonged to him though.

Two Ways to Win

Most Votes
One bike in each contest will be given away to the entry with the most nominations. Nominations are received from friends and family clicking the “nominate button” on an entrants submission

Bike Raffle
All the remaining bikes will be placed in a drawing. To be eligible for the drawing each submission must be nominated by at least 50 friends and family members.

How You Can Help

Whether you have a child with special needs or not you can help more children with special needs win an adaptive bike.

1. Donate To Add More Bikes

In addition to the bikes that have been sponsored, Individuals have the ability to donate to the Great Bike Giveaway to get more bikes added. Every time the donation meter is filled another bike gets added to the drawing!

2. Share and promote

Let as many people as possible know about the opportunity to win an adaptive bike by sharing the the contest via your social networks and email. You can also check out the resources page for additional tools you can use to share the contest.

Contest Timeline

March 3rd 12:00 pm

Contest begins! Photo submissions will be accepted.

March 25th 11:59 am

Contest submission deadline, no entries will be accepted after this time.

March 26th

Drawing (Drawing date is tentative and subject to change) Will be held and winners will be announced.

To enter the Great Bike Giveaway visit www.greatbikegiveaway.com For contest rules visit www.friendshipcircle.org/bikes/rules.

A Special Thank You To the Sponsors

It takes time to refocus at work whether or not you have ADHD.  That time can lead to lost productivity and general chaos in your day.  Add ADHD to the mix and that time to refocus just increased.  If you even manage a few of your typical interruptions in a given day, you can literally add productive minutes and even hours to your day.

Convinced?  Yes?  Your next question is certainly…

But how do I manage them?

• Notify Others:   Use a sign outside of your cubicle or office to let co-workers know that you are doing focused work and cannot be interrupted.  It can simply state, “Focused Work In Progress, Please Don’t Interrupt!”
• Go Somewhere:  Use a conference room or go to the library to keep interruptions down.  Put a sign outside of the conference room for added benefit.
• Silence the Noise:  Turn off the ringer and vibration on your phone, the email notification beep on your computer and use a noise cancellation machine to keep conversations from interrupting you.
• Set Timers:  When you know ahead of time that you need to manage your interruptions, set a timer for 20 – 30 minutes.  During this time, commit to work on this one task or project that needs your attention.  This one can really help with those troublesome self-interruptions!
• Close Email:  Incoming email is a source of ongoing interruptions. All. Day. Long.  To manage your email, you need to periodically close it.  Try checking it just a few times during the day.  This will allow you to focus on your priorities in between checking your email.  You will get through your email faster as an added benefit.

Just One

Pick just one of these tips to implement and leave a comment below to let me know which one!  Good luck!

Does this ring true for you?

Planners can be hard to use.  It can even be hard to remember to use them.  Before giving up on using planners altogether, answer the questions below to help you figure out if you are using the right planner for your ADHD.

• Does your planner fit with your job responsibilities?
• Does your planner fit with your personal commitments?
• Does your planner provide enough room for you to keep track of your appointments and “to-do” list?
• Is your planner portable?  Do you carry it with you wherever you go?
• Do you know where to find your planner?  (right now)

If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, consider how much better it would be if you used a planner that works for you and your ADHD.  You would be able to…

• Keep track of your goals and responsibilities.
• Remember where you need to be and when you need to be there.
• Meet deadlines and reduce your stress levels.

Planner Recommendations for ADHD?

Many people ask me to recommend a planner that works with ADHD.  I do wish there was a one-size-fits all solution.  It would be so easy wouldn’t it?  I’m sorry to say that there isn’t one solution.  The good news is that I do have a guide that can help you choose the right planner for you.  If you use it when you go shopping, you have a better chance of purchasing something that will work for you.   If you have a planner that works for you, you have a better chance of using it!

Sign up below to get your free guide.

Let me know below what questions you have!

Just in case the player above isn’t working correctly, you can always listen in at Blog Talk Radio.