The Top 10 ADDitude Webinars of 2021
From the emotional symptoms of ADHD to behavior problems in children and “revenge bedtime procrastination” in adults, ADDitude hosted nearly 50 webinars in 2021 covering a wide range of topics. Here, revisit our top webinars (and honorable mentions), read accompanying resources, and preview our 2022 webinar calendar.
1. “Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation: The Overlooked ADHD Symptom That Impacts Everything”
Deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR) describes the problem of impulsive emotion coupled with emotional self-regulation difficulties. In this webinar, Russell Barkley, Ph.D., (who coined the term) argues that DESR is an often overlooked aspect of ADHD, and one that can help predict a patient’s lifetime impairments and inform diagnostic and treatment practices.
Testimonial: “I so appreciate a webinar on this topic. It helped me understand my tantrum-filled youth, which led to my lifelong depression. I wish my therapists were more educated about these signs so I could have been diagnosed sooner than 57.”
DESR: Supplemental Reading
2. ADHD Ages and Stages Webinar Series
Led by coach and counselor Meg Leahy, MS, NCC, BCC, this three-part webinar series takes a deep dive into ADHD as it presents across major developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Each webinar explores common ADHD-related challenges and offers targeted, practical strategies and solutions for each life stage.
View Part 1: Strategies for Children with ADHD
Testimonial: “The webinar was incredibly well organized and a great, comprehensive overview of ADHD in children.”
View Part 2: Practical Strategies for Teens and Young Adults with ADHD
Testimonial: “My son graduated from college last May, and I wish I could have seen this webinar before high school or even middle school.”
View Part 3: Practical Strategies for Adults with ADHD
Testimonial: “Thank you. It is so strange to learn that my struggle is real and there is a name for it. And strategies to figure it all out.”
ADHD Through the Lifespan: Supplemental Reading
3. “The Whole-Person Treatment Approach to ADHD”
ADHD, like other mental health conditions, affects (and is affected by) the whole person. This connection explains ADHD’s link to stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and other comorbid conditions — and how these issues can worsen ADHD symptoms.
Treatment, therefore, should go beyond the core symptoms of ADHD to factor in physical and emotional wellbeing along with other aspects of a person’s lifestyle. Integrative medicine — the combination of conventional therapies with holistic strategies and complementary treatments — can help to treat the whole person, not just ADHD symptoms.
In this webinar, Dr. Lidia Zylowska makes the case for a whole-person treatment approach to ADHD and reviews integrative and holistic treatments.
Testimonial: “It is refreshing to hear different approaches and new thought patterns regarding ADHD treatment.”
Integrative Medicine and ADHD: Supplemental Reading
4. “Motivating Your Child with ADHD: What Ignites Interest in and Energy for Learning”
Motivation in children with ADHD is complicated, in part because it is so closely tied to the neuroscience of the ADHD brain. In children, problems with motivation often show up in the classroom, impacting academic performance. In this webinar, Jerome Schultz, Ph.D., explains the science behind motivation and how parents and educators can help students overcome these hurdles to become engaged learners.
Testimonial: “This should be required professional development for teachers and district staff supporting special education services.”
ADHD and Motivation: Supplemental Reading
5. “Equity in ADHD Care: Strategies for Improving Diagnosis and Treatment Among Black and Latinx Children”
Inequities in health care for children of color are well documented and have far-reaching consequences for well-being. Addressing these disparities is critical and starts with understanding the roots of racial and ethnic inequities and other factors that influence the developmental trajectories of these children.
In this webinar, Dr. Tumaini Rucker Coker explains the many factors behind inadequate intervention and treatment for ADHD in Black and Latinx children -- like the school-to-prison pipeline, medical mistrust, discrimination, and more -- and how clinicians can improve ADHD care.
Testimonial: “Thank you for being so intentional and including the historical facts that impact our African American children and families.”
Inequities in Healthcare: Supplemental Reading
6. “Complex ADHD: The New Approach to Understanding, Diagnosing, and Treating Comorbidities in Concert”
ADHD is a complex condition. This complexity is due to several factors:
- The disorder is heterogeneous, presenting differently across diagnosed individuals
- ADHD impacts functioning across multiple domains of life
- Symptoms can fluctuate over time
- ADHD often co-occurs with other conditions
Out of all these parts comes the term “complex ADHD.” In this webinar, Dr. Theresa Cerulli discusses these factors, as well as best practices for diagnosing and treating complex ADHD as described in recent guidelines released by professional organizations.
Testimonial: "That was an excellent summary of the most up-to-date information about comorbidities and treatment. It was even more impactful because the expert explained the ‘whys’ and how to make changes."
Complex ADHD: Supplemental Reading
7. “Menopause and ADHD: How Estrogen Changes Impact Dopamine, Cognition, and Women’s Health”
Many women experience increased difficulties with attention, memory, and mood during menopause — symptoms that resemble ADHD. These difficulties result from changing levels of the hormone estrogen, which plays an important role in cognitive functioning. While research hasn’t established a clear connection between ADHD and mental changes in menopause, the implication is that estrogen loss affects the ADHD brain.
This webinar, led by Jeanette Wasserstein, Ph.D., discusses estrogen loss during menopause, how it impacts cognition, and how it may worsen or even “create” ADHD-like symptoms in women. She also proves strategies and approaches for managing these challenges.
Testimonial: “It’s good to see that the link between menopause and ADD is being taken seriously.”
ADHD and Menopause: Supplemental Reading
8. “Do I Have Autism? ADHD? Both? An Adult’s Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment”
Most research on ADHD and autism focuses on children. In this webinar, Benjamin Yerys, Ph.D., discusses adult autism and ADHD, including typical symptom presentation, outcomes, and best diagnostic and treatment practices.
Testimonial: “Excellent topic. I work with ASD teens, and most are diagnosed with ADHD as well. More of this please!”
ADHD and Autism in Adulthood: Supplemental Reading
9. “Discipline Strategies for ADHD: How to Manage Your Child’s Most Challenging Behaviors”
In this webinar, David Anderson, Ph.D., breaks down effective strategies — from positive relationship building to creating reward systems — for managing and curbing behavioral problems in children with ADHD. While focused on behavioral problems arising from the pandemic stressors, the techniques covered in this webinar are appropriate no matter the circumstances.
Testimonial: “Outstanding explanations and applications based on research and current practices.”
ADHD and Discipline: Supplemental Reading
10. “Gender Diversity and Neurodiversity: How to Support a Child, Teen, or Young Adult with ADHD as They Explore Gender”
It’s natural and healthy for children to explore gender identity. For youth with ADHD, it’s a process that is impacted by their neurodiverse brains. In this webinar, Sharon Saline, Psy.D. and Julie Mencher, MSW, discuss the intersection of neurodiversity and gender diversity, and how caregivers and professionals can support these children in safe and appropriate ways.
Testimonial: “I am trans, and I thought this was a really good webinar! The vast majority of this seemed like a really good way to help neurodivergent and genderqueer kids. This is a great introduction to gender for a parent who doesn't know much about it.”
ADHD and Gender Diversity: Supplemental Reading
Honorable Mentions
1. “Revenge Bedtime Procrastination: How Women with ADHD Can Break the Cycle of Delayed Sleep and Stress”
Revenge bedtime procrastination happens when we prioritize leisure and entertainment activities over sleep to make up for the “me” time we missed during the day. This webinar reviews this phenomenon, why women with ADHD are affected by it, and how to develop healthy sleep habits.
2. “ADHD, Clarified: New Research and Essential Strategies for Thriving with ADHD”
From the power of social support and meditation to the importance of knowing your strengths, Drs. Ned Hallowell and John Ratey share essential strategies for living well with ADHD.
3. “A Parent’s Guide to Problem-Solving School Behavior Struggles”
This webinar walks parents through detailed steps, with accompanying samples and templates, to address behavior issues in school.
4. “Is It Bipolar Disorder or ADHD Moodiness? A Guide to Getting the Right Diagnosis and Treatment”
Emotionality and moodiness are part of ADHD, but these traits may also point to other comorbid conditions, like bipolar disorder. This webinar discusses how to differentiate between the moodiness associated with ADHD from bipolar disorder and other diagnostic and treatment considerations.
5. “6 Principles for Raising a Child with ADHD”
Dr. Russell Barkley shares important principles, informed by decades of practice, that parents can use to raise a happy, confident child with ADHD.
And why not prepare for the New Year by revisiting one of our first webinars of 2021? “Time to Reset: Simplify Your ADHD Life in the New Year”
