SPRINGFIELD, IL Illinois Senate Majority Caucus Whip Terry Link (D Waukegan) will stand alongside House Assistant Majority Leader Joe Lyons (D Chicago) and various safety advocates today to promote the passage of a new bill intended to save lives by enforcing speed limits.

 not only will this bill potentially save the lives of Illinois drivers, it will help combat the senseless deaths caused by vehicular homicide, Link said.

 Senate Bill 1852 permits the use of automated camera systems at points on Illinois roadways that have high occurrences of accidents as a result of speeding. The systems capture an image of the speeding vehicle and its license plate, not people inside the vehicle.

 ”520 speed related fatalities is entirely too many, said Rep. Joe Lyons (D-Chicago). Regulating speed with these cameras has been proven to slow vehicles down and reduce accidents which is why I support this legislation.”

 The bill is a major piece of the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running. currently traffic crashes are the most significant cause of preventable death and injury in North America.

 ”Red-light cameras have saved lives and to apply them to slow down speeders will make the roads of Illinois safer,” said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

"I used to say that my train of thought made all the stops!" said Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler during an interview with "60 Minutes" correspondent Lara Logan. "I’m ADD personified."

Amen, brother! Tyler’s brain races faster than Japan’s Bullet Train, leaving "60 Minutes" producer John Hamlin in the dust. "Interviewing him was a challenge," said Hamlin in a post-show conversation. "when you ask him a question about Subject A, he ends up on Subject D, E or F… A lot of times [the answer] has nothing to do with the question we’ve asked."

Hmmm. Sounds like ADHD to me; and "Predominantly Hyperactive" ADHD at that. Tyler’s mind works so fast he needs a triple dose of stimulation to maintain even a modicum of focus. During Aerosmith concerts, a sound effects guy sends wacky, goofy sounds into Tyler’s earphones, sort of an audio fidget to occupy his wandering ADHD brain.

"I would think that if you’re onstage, the front man of a rock and roll band in front of 15,000 people, that you’re pretty focused on what’s going on, " said Hamlin. "But he’s got a guy in his ear keeping him entertained!"

As I watched the interview again on the CBS News website, I was struck by Tyler’s classic ADHD symptoms. his bandmates report that he’s often demanding and sometimes impossible to talk to. and he admits tossing hurtful remarks in their direction.

"I’ve said many things to those guys I never should have said," said Tyler. "That I didn’t mean. But I tell the truth. That’s why they don’t like me."

Lara Logan described Tyler as "always unfiltered and spontaneous," which easily translate to the ADHD vernacular, "lack of inhibition" and "impulsive."

At age 63, Tyler is clearly among the four to five percent of adults who did not ‘outgrow’ their ADHD. his zany, sassy attitude is as bold and forthright as his music. and he is certainly not in the closet about his diagnosis. Logan asked Tyler about juggling his duties on television’s "American Idol" show with the demands of creating yet another new Aerosmith album.

Logan: so you will actually write lyrics while you’re driving?

Tyler: oh yeah. Yeah, yeah. you know that I’m ADD, uh, personified.

Logan: and OCD?

Tyler: I’m not sure about that. But I’m ADD…Um, uh, now I forgot what I was saying.

Logan: sorry. I interrupted you.

Hey, this is ADHD personified, Lara Logan. you don’t interrupt a train of thought that makes all the stops. only the ADD-ish Steve Tyler is allowed to do that!

How do you feel about Steven Tyler’s "brand" of ADHD? did you grow up listening to his music? What’s your take on his 63-year-old hyperactivity?

Baby is sleeping. Isn’t that a beautiful sentence? Especially if you have a little one who likes to stay awake way past everyone’s bedtime. once that baby does go to sleep, it’s like mama’s shoulders immediately relax. so we should just be happy when baby finally does fall asleep, right? even if she’s snoring, right? Well … wrong. it turns out that when a baby is sleeping and there are interruptions in that sleep, specifically if you have a little snorer on your hands, it could be a sign of behavior issues like ADHD cropping up once your child is school-age. 

Great. just great. (Read: sarcasm.) so we can’t sleep when baby sleeps? We have to instead hover and make sure she isn’t snoring like grandpa and if she is we should run to the doctor? Well, not exactly. here are the details ….

This study lead by Karen Bonuck of Albert Einstein College of Medicine looked at the sleep habits of over 11,000 children starting at 6 months of age. the parents noted if their baby snored, breathed through the mouth, or had any form of sleep apnea (interrupted breathing) while asleep. These children were monitored until 7 years of age. it was discovered that “babies who have these sleep problems at 6 months may be anywhere from 20% to 100% more likely to have problem behaviors such as hyperactivity by age 7.”

The little snorers — the ones with the worst sleep disorder symptoms — displayed anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, aggression, and difficulty in getting along with their peers at the ages of 4 through 7. some developed ADHD.

Why does this happen? “Sleep is a time to restore the brain’s cellular and chemical homeostasis,” Bonuck shared. “when sleep is disordered, the brain receives less oxygen than it needs, and may get more carbon dioxide than it needs.” This could be damaging to the brain since it’s still developing and therefore it can affect how the brain develops. This is why good sleep for babies and kids (heck even parents) is so important.

If your baby snores, the first thing to do is talk to your pediatrician to see if your child has enlarged tonsils or adenoids. That can be treated. I guess a little hovering while our babies sleep is a good thing — there are things their bodies can tell us. We can sleep when they’re teenagers.

What do you think of this study? does your baby have any sleep issues? does it worry you?

Image via Kekka/Flickr

In its effort to broaden reach and leverage social networking, Linked N Chicago (LiNC), the largest Chicago-centric group on LinkedIn, has added J.D. Gershbein, CEO of Owlish Communications, as a strategic adviser to its management team. The group, now in excess of 33,000 members, is considered by LinkedIn to be one of the site’s most popular and frequently accessed groups.

Since 2006, J.D. Gershbein, a Vernon Hills resident, has enlightened thousands of executives, business owners, professional service providers, salespeople and helped their firms gain a competitive edge on LinkedIn. “J.D. will give our enterprise a huge credibility boost,” adds McFarlin. “He is one of the top LinkedIn consultants in the world and a Chicago guy. We are looking forward to collaborating with J.D. and benefiting from his vast LinkedIn expertise.” LiNC plans to work with J.D. on a number of social media initiatives which include sponsoring his revolutionary LinkedIn workshop training programs all across the Chicagoland area.

Chicago business professionals have long recognized LiNC as fertile ground for social networking, collaboration and high quality events. having organized into a solid, off-line enterprise, Linked N Chicago is on the fast track to becoming the standard of excellence in leveraging a LinkedIn group into real world opportunities for its members. “We’re taking an online community to an offline community and creating a sense of a community,” explains Mary McFarlin, the group’s Founder and Owner. “We are not resting on our laurels as just another LinkedIn group. We are tapping into the energy of our team and our membership to help us create win-win opportunities.”

Linked N Chicago, founded in 2006, provides superior networking opportunities, professional resources and support to the Chicagoland business community. through regularly scheduled events, affiliations, partnerships and community outreach programs, LiNC is the place to be for those on LinkedIn, both locally and globally, who are looking to meet quality professionals in the greater Chicago area.

For more information about LiNC, including membership, committees, marketing opportunities and a complete schedule of events, visit lincme.com, or contact Mary McFarlin at 312.479.2431, or Mary Toomey, Director of Marketing, at 630.725.8971. for more information about J.D. Gershbein, including information on his LinkedIn workshop series, visit owlishcommunications.com or contact him at 847.651.8989.

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not due to bad parenting or too much sugar in the diet but heredity, a new study has found. Children with ADHD find it difficult to focus and can be disruptive and uncontrollable both at home and at school.

If you or a loved one lives with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) there are ways to ease the symptoms while in your home. Dr. Mark Haffey, EdD, director of the Haffey Center for Attention and Memory in Amherst MA, offered up good advice for making your house a place of support for those with ADHD.

“There are different systems for different people, but there are some general ideas that are helpful for most everybody,” Haffey said. Haffey said that the “simpler the environment the better.”

“People with ADHD often build in too many distractions such as TV’s and music systems. The quieter the better for most people with ADHD,” he said. Haffey added that some people with ADHD need to have low background noise while working or doing homework, others need total silent to perform those types of activities. “If there is background noise, it can’t be a favorite show or song,” said Haffey.

The launching pad

Haffey said that one the most universal techniques for people with ADHD is to have a “launching pad” in the front hallway or by the front door. “People with ADHD frequently lose their keys, wallets, cell phones, day planners, etc. Having a box or basket by the front door is puts everything where they need it to be when they launch their day – and that’s where everything is returned when they come home,” said Haffey.

Bill paying kit

One area is designated as the “bill paying area” and is set up with a basket for bills, envelopes, pens, stamps, and other typical items needed for bill paying. Haffey said that people with ADHD often get into trouble with bills because there is frequently some part of the bill paying process that is misplaced or can’t be found.

The three-basket system

Whether used for mail or for other organizational needs, Haffey recommends using three baskets, which can even be color-coded. “You have one basket for things that have to be taken care of immediately, one for things that can wait, and one for things that need to be thrown out,” Haffey said. He added that “people (with ADHD) tend to get stuck trying to figure out what they need to attend to and what they don’t.”

Technology aids

Haffey said that the advent of smart phones has been a boon for people with ADHD. Aside from scheduling appointments, alarms can be set up throughout the day to remind people of things they need to do. for example, Haffey said he knew of someone who found that if they “took a shower at 6 a.m. every day, the rest of their day went better.”

Unfortunately, at this time, Haffey said, there is no type of insurance coverage for technology aides for people with ADHD. However, he added that there are medical groups in the US that are working on creating more sensible solutions for people with ADHD that save money in the long run.

The human element

When starting out working to arrange a home to better support someone with ADHD, Haffey said “it’s best to hire a professional organizer.” otherwise, he said it’s best to have someone, for example a parent, initiate organizing the home. 

If you are trying to help someone with ADHD organize themselves, say in their bedroom, Haffey said that it is always good to have what he calls a body double. “The friend or family member can help, or just spend time with the person. Having someone there is often calming enough to reduce some of the stress of organizing,” said Haffey.

How does color affect people with ADHD?

Haffey said that one of the best colors to paint the house in for someone who has ADHD is blue. “Blue is soothing to people. Science has shown that blue has a very calming affect on the brain waves. People with ADHD need an environment that creates a calmer mood as they tend to be distracted and frazzled,” said Haffey.

So in general, the keys to a helpful living environment for someone with ADHD are organization, personal support, and keeping the house as simple and quiet as possible.

Cris Carl writes about Boston-area flooring and housing issues. Read more like this – networx.com/article/organizing-the-house-for-adhd – on Networx.

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LOGAN — a 28-year-old woman is facing felony charges for swapping cigarettes for Adderall with two juveniles in her neighborhood.

Court records show Sunny Morrisette was charged in 1st District Court Friday with seven counts of possession or use of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony and 10 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a class B misdemeanor, in connection with the exchanges. the woman apparently admitted to police that she was was “under a lot of stress” when she decided to try the prescription drug,

“(She) had heard good things about Adderall and wanted to try it,” according to a probable cause statement.

The woman then started to trade a brother and sister in her neighborhood their Adderall “and other pills or money” for her cigarettes. She told police the exchanges took place at least 10 times in the month of October, according to the probable cause statement.

Both juveniles also admitted to the exchanges.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Adderall is a brand of drug that is used to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and narcolepsy and is in a “class of medications called central nervous system stimulants.”

An initial appearance was scheduled for Dec. 19 in the case.

— Emiley Morgan

Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam

(Credit:iStockPhoto)

(CBS) do diets that claim to reduce symptoms of ADHD in kids actually work?

PICTURES: Does your child really have ADHD? 17 things to rule out first

A new review of ADHD diets by pediatric researchers suggests healthy eating could actually help kids reduce their ADHD symptoms. But the researchers warn a diet probably shoud not be the first line of defense against ADHD, but merely a supplement to other proven therapies such as medication.

“Supplemental diet therapy is simple, relatively inexpensive, and more acceptable to patient and parent,” the authors wrote in the review, published in the Jan. 9 issue of Pediatrics. “Public education regarding a healthy diet pattern and lifestyle to prevent or control ADHD may have greater long-term success.”

For the study, Dr. J. Gordon Millichap and Michelle M. Yee, researchers at Children’s Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University in Chicago, reviewed 70 studies on diet-based treatments for ADHD.

Some diets that have been thought to reduce symptoms of ADHD include the preservative-free Feingold Diet, a sugar-restricted diet, an “elimination diet” that avoids potential food allergens, and diets loaded with Omega-3 fatty acid supplements that supposedly boost brain health. What did the researchers have to say?

The Feingold Diet, which says to avoid foods like apples, grapes, luncheon meet, hot dogs, cold drinks, and anything else with orange and red dyes, was not proven to be effective by other studies, the researchers said. Parents who wish to follow this diet need patience, perseverance, and an understanding doctor and nutritionist, the authors wrote.

What about sugar? on the surface it seems giving a kid too much sugar can boost hyperactivity, but the researchers said the majority of studies it looked at failed to demonstrate that a diet high in sugar or artificial sweeteners had an effect on a child’s behavior or cognitive function, thus questioning the importance of a low-sugar diet for kids with ADHD. The authors realize despite their findings, the perception that sugar makes a kid more hyperactive is unlikely to change.

Did any of the diets actually work?

Supplementation with Omega-3 and Omega 6- fatty acids, often found in fish oil supplements, helped some children reduce their ADHD symptoms and get higher grades at school. But the benefit was not clearly demonstrated across the board.

“Most parents are enthusiastic about trying the diet supplements, despite our explanation of only possible benefit and lack of proof of efficacy,” the authors wrote. “In almost all cases, for treatment to be managed effectively, medication is also required”

Other studies suggested a reduction in ADHD symptoms from the elimination or “hypoallergenic” diet, which cuts out some common allergy-inducing foods like cow’s milk and cheese, nuts, wheat cereal, and chocolate, and replaces them with hypoallergenic foods like lamb, potatoes, tapioca, carrots, and pears.

“We find the hypoallergenic diet might be effective, but difficult for families to manage them,” Millichap told HealthDay.

What worked best? A  “healthy” diet rich in fish, vegetables, whole-grain foods, fruits, and legumes seemed to improve symptoms for kids of ADHD, by combating some unhealthy foods found in a “Western” diet such as red meats, fast food, and high-fat dairy products. one Australian study found kids who typically eat a Western-style diet were significantly more likely to have ADHD than kids who ate the healthy diet.

The authors wrote, “A greater attention to the education of parents and children in a healthy dietary pattern, omitting items shown to predispose to ADHD, is perhaps the most promising and practical complementary or alternative treatment of ADHD.”

Approximately 9.5 percent of U.S. kids – more than 5.4 million children – have ADHD.

WebMD has more on ADHD.

The Career Center launches its online presence this semester, using the social networking website LinkedIn.com to help students find jobs.

“We are meeting students where they are,” said Debbie Darling, a Career Center industry specialist for humanities and social science. Darling hopes to connect with students via social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is a professional social networking website designed to help connect its 75 million users to job opportunities and field-specific resources. Recruiters and hiring managers use the website to find candidates and make connections with prospective employees.

Jim Case, director of the Career Center, hopes LinkedIn will work as a platform to connect the 49,000 users that list Cal State Fullerton as their school with students seeking jobs and internships.

“It’s (LinkedIn) a huge database of potential opportunity for students,” Case said. “Students can build an online network that goes beyond people on campus.”

On LinkedIn, users can create a profile that lists experience, educational background, specialties and current job positions.

Other LinkedIn members can write recommendations and refer users to each other. Users can join groups specific to their fields of interests, jobs and schools where they can connect with other members and interact with prospective employers.

Laura Neal, a Career Center industry specialist for arts, entertainment and communications, encourages students to use LinkedIn as a supplement to a paper presence.

“It’s an electronic résumé,” Neil said.

Neal thinks LinkedIn is going to have more endurance than social media websites like Facebook and the once trendy MySpace.

“It is more about public image,” Neal said. “There are no vacation photo albums, no Farmville, no hugs, no hearts.”

The Career Center created a group on LinkedIn to assist students with creating online portfolios. The group provides information on interviewing, résumé building, available internships, Career Center workshops and more. Within the Career Center LinkedIn group, there are nine subgroups, focusing on specific aspects of job searching.

Darling moderates the subgroup “transitioning your military experience into the private sector,” which helps CSUF veterans sell their military skills on their résumés. with this subgroup, Darling has been able to better contact veterans on campus and provide them with resources, while giving veterans a platform to connect with each other.

The Career Center subgroup, “networking and using social media in the job search,” gives members advice and resources on how to successfully use social media like LinkedIn and Facebook in the job search.

“More and more students are setting up LinkedIn accounts,” said Case, who moderates the subgroup. “They think of it as a social or recreational space. we help students learn how to use the tool and focus on creating a professional environment to promote career success in graduates and alumni.”

The Career Center is hosting a career networking workshop on Oct. 21 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., which will focus on online networking and face-to-face interaction with prospective employers.

Every Thursday, the Career Center hosts an open lab for LinkedIn, where students can get one-on-one help with creating an effective and professional profile. The lab is 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Langsdorf Hall 210G.

“(LinkedIn) can be intimidating,” Case said. “But everyone has to start somewhere. if students are not learning how to use it, they are underselling their future.”

A strong LinkedIn profile can make a difference in the job market. here are some tips to enhance your online presence and get noticed by employers:

1. Use a professional profile picture. Use a high-quality, professional headshot as your profile picture. take the photo against a plain background, keep hair out of your face and dress professionally.

2. Use keywords in the “Specialties” section. Use words that someone might use when searching for a specific job or type of candidate for a position. For someone majoring in business, good keywords would be: risk management, operational excellence, finance, analysis and business development.

3. Update your status frequently. Updating your status will help you get noticed by others, and will enhance your profile’s search listing. Statuses can be about recent accomplishes, books you have read, or projects you are participating in.

4. Personalize your profile headline. Consider your headline as a professional introduction. Keep it simple (“student at Cal State Fullerton”) or be more specific (“honors graduate looking for analyst position”).

5. Get recommendations. Recommendations from other LinkedIn members can boost credibility and serve as a mutual connection between you and a prospective employer. ask professors, colleagues and employers for recommendations

(Credit:iStockPhoto)

(CBS) a new gene study may provide answers for what causes attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most common behavior disorders among kids.

PICTURES: does your child really have ADHD? 17 things to rule out first

Scientists say they’ve identified variations in four genes involved in so-called “brain signaling pathways,” and those variations may unlock clues on how to treat the disorder.

For the study – published in the Dec. 4 issue of Nature Genetics – scientists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia analyzed the whole genomes of 1,000 kids with ADHD, compared with those of 4,100 kids without ADHD. The scientists looked for differences in the number of deletions or duplications of DNA.

What did they find? Kids with ADHD had a significant number of differences on four particular genes involved in a pathway that’s thought to relay information between the neurons and the brain.

“At least 10 percent of the ADHD patients in our sample have these particular genetic variants,” study author Dr. Hakon Hakonarson, director of the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a written statement. “The genes involved affect neurotransmitter systems in the brain that have been implicated in ADHD, and we now have a genetic explanation for this link.”

Overall, 5.2 million U.S. children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the CDC. Thousands of other genes may contribute to ADHD risk, but the scientists said that identifying a gene responsible for 10 percent of cases is a “robust” finding that can help others.

How? Scientists say new drugs could target these pathways and provide a more effective treatment for ADHD.

“This research will allow new therapies to be developed that are tailored to treating underlying causes of ADHD,” study co-author Dr. Josephine Elia, a child psychiatrist and ADHD expert at Children’s Hospital, said in the statement. “This is another step toward individualizing treatment to a child’s genetic profile.”

WebMD has more on ADHD.

When we encounter the term Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), we usually immediately associate the condition with children, which is not entirely surprising, as it is one of the most recognized developmental problems in children.

ADHD, however, is a condition that is not experienced exclusively by children. Adults may have ADHD as well.

ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness, and for 60 percent of children who have ADHD, these symptoms continue into adulthood. Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to follow directions, remember information, concentrate, organize tasks, or complete tasks within a specific time limit.

ADHD in adults may lead to several behaviors and problems, including, but not limited to, low self esteem; difficulty in controlling anger; substance abuse or addiction; depression; and relationship issues, among others.

In addition, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely to smoke cigarettes, use illegal drugs, and have various driving violations, such as being cited for speeding; having their license suspended; and being involved in more car crashes.

While there are adults that may suffer from ADHD, researchers agree that it is not an adult-onset disorder and needs to be verified from childhood.

Treatment of ADHD in adults may consist of medication and cognitive and behavioral therapy.

Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed with stimulant drugs. the challenge with this treatment, however, is that stimulant drugs are controlled substances, which is why adults with ADHD are prone to substance abuse. the only non-stimulant medication that has been given approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is Strattera.

Tags: adult ADHD, adult ADHD behaviors, adult ADHD medication, adult ADHD symptoms, adult ADHD treatment