Dr Hallowell

Ned and Sue Hallowell spoke to the Globe about their book, love, marriage-and their anniversary. To read the interview “Marriage un-interrupted“ click here: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/relationships/articles/2010/02/13/living_and_loving_together_in_the_age_of_interruption/

By addressing several systems simultaneously, you can get more bang for your buck, so to speak, more bang for each minute spent using the program, more bang for each calorie of effort spent.　 Since such calories are not infinite, it is best to get the most out of each one! 

iLs has expanded upon an auditory therapy developed in Europe years ago, and added visual and balance exercises. The program can be customized to address different purposes, e.g. reading, auditory processing, attention, autism, etc. Furthermore, iLs has designed it so that kids actually have fun doing this program, instead of looking at it as drudgery. Fun leads to compliance, and compliance leads to success. 

The combination of listening to filtered music, which sounds just like standard classical music, while doing exercises, like balancing on a wobble board or hitting a ball suspended from the ceiling, works the brain in special ways. While the full neurology has yet to be worked out, the results the program usually provides are impressive indeed. A controlled study of 64 at-risk students in New Mexico showed an average improvement in reading of two years after the three-month intervention. And at a clinic in Florida, 27 out of 29 children diagnosed with auditory processing disorder were successfully remediated after completing the program.

I have been sufficiently impressed with iLs myself to start offering the program in my offices in the Boston area and in New York City.　 I have also become a paid consultant to the company to help them advance research into iLs and also to help them get the word out as to its effectiveness and availability. 

As you all know, I am asked to endorse a host of products and interventions, and I only do so when I am convinced that the product or intervention is worthwhile. iLs meets my strict standards. Of course, we need more research to be able to predict results reliably. But children grow and develop, and they can’t always wait for the prospective double-blind studies to be done. 

I believe that iLs can help millions of children, as well as adults, who have ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning issues. It can also help with autistic spectrum disorders as well as auditory processing issues. A big plus is that the program can be implemented in clinics, schools and at home.

For more information, you can visit their website at: http://www.integratedlistening.com  

 I welcome hearing from any of you with questions or comments.

Hello, I’d like to tell you about my class at the Cape Cod Institute,  a wonderful organization run for many years by the estimable Dr. Gil Levin. My course, entitled “Unwrapping the Gifts: A Strength-Based Approach to ADHD Across The Life Span” meets in Eastham, a lovely town on the upper Cape, from July 12 through July 16. I teach in the morning, from 9 a.m. until 12:15, and after that participants go play on Cape Cod. The course is intended for mental health professionals as well as adults from other backgrounds who simply want to learn more about ADD, especially a perspective that looks for the strengths as well as the obstacles involved in the intriguing way of being called ADD.

The CAPE COD INSTITUTE is a summer long series of 27 week-long in-depth continuing education courses for mental health and management professionals, taught by leading contributors to knowledge and practice. Sessions are held Monday-Friday mornings, leaving the afternoons free for leisure and study. The courses are approved for continuing education credit for various professional groups.

I want to make clear my view on the use of marijuana by people who have ADHD.  I am writing this post because of a recent piece in the New York Times that misled some readers.

I am totally and completely opposed to the use of marijuana by people who have ADHD.  John Ratey and I made this clear some fifteen years ago in our book Answers to Distraction, and our opinion has not changed.  The reason I feel this way is that I have seen too many patients get into enormous difficulties due to their use of pot.  Not only can they get into trouble with the law, they can develop a dependency that leads them to be less productive in their lives than they otherwise could be.  People with ADHD are at great risk for developing addiction or dependency on all illicit substances, as well as activities like gambling, spending, sex, food, and even exercise.  In my experience, marijuana ranks at or near the top of the list of substances that cause problems for people who have ADHD.

I hope this clarifies my position.  Pot and ADHD do not mix well.

Happy Holidays to you all!!!!!