Recent studies have linked screen time — including video game play — to concerning outcomes in children, including low self-esteem, low life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. Screen time has also been found to be correlated with symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents, even when earlier attention difficulties are taken into account.
These findings suggest that excessive video game play may be a risk factor for the development of ADHD symptoms. Other research suggests the possibility of reverse causation, i.e., that ADHD symptoms predicts the development of excessive video game play. [Read more…] about Canadian study finds causal link between time playing videogames at age 12 and ADHD symptoms at age 13
Although medication treatment for ADHD has been shown to significantly reduce core ADHD symptoms in hundreds of studies, important concerns remain about it being prescribed inappropriately to children and teens who do not have ADHD. There is also evidence that many youth with ADHD who could potentially benefit from medication treatment do not receive it, and may realize poorer outcomes in as a result. 
Academic difficulties are one of the most important adverse consequences of ADHD, and they frequently contribute to parents’ decision to seek treatment for their child. Whether treatment consistently yields a positive impact on long-term academic success is thus an important issue; however, the answer to this question has been somewhat controversial.
Stimulant medication treatment and behavior therapy are currently the two child ADHD treatments with the strongest research support. However, when parents begin treatment for their child, or when professionals are initiating treatment with a new client, there is no research to guide the decision of which approach to begin with.
Who would have thought that children living at higher altitudes have lower risk of developing ADHD than peers at lower elevation levels? As the research described below suggests, however, this may be the case.