45: ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe?

Dr. Walt Karniski is an author and a Developmental Pediatrician trained at Boston’s Children Hospital. He was the Director of Division of Developmental Pediatricians at the University of South Florida for 15 years. He spent the last 20 years developing and operating three private schools for children with ADHD and anxiety disorder. Throughout his career, Dr. Walt has evaluated close to 10,000 children. His new book is ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe? (Roman & Littlefield, May 15, 2022). Learn more at: adhdmedicationbook.com

In this episode, Dr. Walt talks about ADHD in teens how it affects them in their adult life. 

Key Takeaways

• What is the real definition of ADHD? 
• Some children are just not designed to sit still for hours at a time. 
• How do you know if someone has ADHD? 
• Medication acts as an imposter in the brain. Dr. Walt further explains.
• When examining two brain scans, is there a difference between one with ADHD and one without?
• Is ADHD overdiagnosed? 
• There are three indicators how ADHD is a valid neurological condition. 
• Adults who have ADHD are more likely to go bankrupt. 
• Children with ADHD will have difficulty as adults. 
• Dr. Walt sheds light on what’s going on inside a child’s mind who has ADHD. 
• ADHD haunts people because it’s taught them that they’re not ‘good’. 
• Dr. Walt has helped people of all ages help them get a better handle on their ADHD. 

Sponsored by Lessons in Leadership online program: https://varsityleadership.com/

Resources

His new book is ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe? (Roman & Littlefield, May 15, 2022). 

Learn more at: adhdmedicationbook.com

Quotes:

“ADHD is not a disease. It actually kept us alive and it kept us functioning.” 

“There are no neurological differences between children who have ADHD and those who do not.” 

“As adults, children with ADHD are more likely to be in car accidents. Adults with ADHD are more likely to change jobs frequently, and more likely to be paid as well than someone without ADHD.”