Tips on How to Handle Employee Office Romances - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Tips on How to Handle Employee Office Romances - Introvert Whisperer Tips on How to Handle Employee Office Romances Office romances are becoming more common in the workplace. As colleagues spend more time together, work relationships can often develop into personal relationships. While this may create a more relaxed working environment, it can also be challenging for employers to manage. Office romances can have a large effect on the culture and stability of a workplace, especially after relationships end. By working together and following best practices, employers and employees can more easily manage the risks of an office romance. How Office Romances Can Impact the Workplace When left unmanaged, office romances can lead to many problems in the workplace. If a member of the couple has a higher position, for example, they may be accused of unfairly favouring their partner. After a relationship ends it can also add stress to the working environment for both the couple and others they work with. Sexual harassment claims are another concern for companies. While a strict policy against relationships can solve some of these problems, it can also lead to office romances being pursued in secret, which can have much worse outcomes. Employee Relationships Building relationships at work is natural, but how you’re allowed to act on these relationships can depend on your company’s policy. Some companies will see an office romance as outside of their business, while others will allow them but have specific rules in place. A common rule for employees is that relationships with each other need to be reported to management. Other rules can reinforce the importance of non-disclosure agreements. Confidential information about work should not be disclosed between partners in an office romance if they don’t have the same authority level. In short, colleagues that are in an office romance need to prioritise their responsibilities as employees first before their relationship. Tips for Employees Do Follow your workplace’s policy on correct conduct Let your employer or manager know if you’re in an office romance Be prepared for the possibility of a breakup and its consequences Keep your relationship separate when at work Don’t Kiss or touch in the workplace or during work events Discuss your relationship at work Treat your partner differently to other colleagues Allow the relationship to impact your work quality Engage in actions which could be interpreted as sexual harassment Managing Office Romances Building professional, friendly relationships can be a good thing for a business and allow employees to communicate openly. While personal relationships between employees aren’t illegal, employers can place limits on these relationships while at work. Some companies enact a zero-tolerance policy, where an employee is expected to move areas or resign if found to be in a relationship with one of their colleagues. However, this often won’t stop a relationship from being pursued in secret. If an employee is forced to resign because of such a policy, they can also potentially claim it as unfair dismissal. The best approach that employers can take is to reinforce the need for maturity and transparency regarding workplace relationships, neither banning them completely nor encouraging inappropriate behaviour. Being aware of office romances is much safer for a business and its employees, allowing employers to appropriately manage any issues as they arise. Tips for Employers Do Require employees to disclose if they are in a relationship with each other Create a professional conduct policy which protects against sexual harassment Talk with those in a relationship to set up appropriate rules Manage the wider perception of any relationship in the workplace Don’t Create an unnecessarily strict policy on office conduct Allow behaviour which could be misconstrued as sexual harassment Unfairly dismiss employees who breach rules Force relationships to be hidden While office romances can present a challenge for employers, research suggests that the majority of inter-office relationships do not last. This means that employers and managers should seek to remain transparent and accommodating towards employees, while preparing to control any adverse outcomes of a breakup. With the right policies and preparation in place, employers and employees can navigate the world of office romances in a successful and professional manner. Author’s Bio: This article was written by Daniel Defendi, who recommends Perth City Legal for support with sexual harassment claims. Catch Daniel on Google+ to discuss this piece. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Online Square Root of 144 Tutors

Online Square Root of 144 Tutors Square root of 144 can also be represented using the square root radical sign as 144 and it can simplified further by splitting it into its prime factors. 144 can also be written as (2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 3) and the number which is multiplied to itself is pulled outside. This implies we get, 2 * 2 * 3 outside and it is equal to 12. Therefore, square root of 144 144 = 12 and 144 is a perfect square since its square root gives a perfect number. Example 1: Find the value of the expression, 25 * 144. Here each square root radical should be simplified further. 25 = (5 * 5). Now pull out the number which is repeating twice inside the radical. This gives: 25 = 5and 25 is a perfect square since its square root gives a perfect number! And we already have 144 = 12. So, 25 * 144 = 5 * 12 = 60. Hence the value of the expression, 25 * 144is = 60. Example 2: Find the value of the expression, 18 * 144. Here each square root radical should be simplified further. 18 = (2 * 3 * 3). Now pull out the number which is repeating twice inside the radical. This gives: 18 = 32and here 18 is a not a perfect square since its square root gives a number in the radical. And,144 = 12. So, 18 * 144 = 32 * 12 = 362. Hence the value of the expression, 18 * 144 is = 362.

How to Find the Best Online Tutoring Service

How to Find the Best Online Tutoring Service 0SHARESShare As a parent you must be worried about the studies of your child and when it comes to selecting an online tutoring service provider for your child the worries can increase fourfold. However, if you go about it the right way, there isn’t much to worry about. Here are a few simple steps that you can follow to find the best online tutoring service provider for your child: Do a thorough research of as many online tutoring websites as you can. Be careful of the hidden catches. Many online tutoring websites say that they provide free services but there is always a catch associated with it. They may provide initial tutoring sessions for free but later they may subject you to a hefty fee. Get in touch with the tutors. It is very important to know the background and knowledge level of the person who is going to handle your child’s study. In case you wish to know more about free online tutoring services and our tutoring sessions, contact us. [starbox id=admin]

Poetry Competitions in the UK

Poetry Competitions in the UK How to Find and Enter UK Poetry Competitions ChaptersHow to Find Poetry Writing Contests to EnterEntering a Magazine Poem CompetitionPopular UK Poetry CompetitionsHave a Go at Poetry ReadingWhat is a Poetry Slam?Poetry is a popular creative outlet among all kinds of people, but attitudes to one’s own work can differ greatly. While some prefer to keep their poems private, others are keen to share their work with others.One popular way that budding poets share their work is through entering poetry competitions.There are many advantages to submitting your work to be judged other than the possibility of a prize; some writing competitions offer feedback on your work, regardless of how far you get in the competition, and some organisations may publish entrants’ work in an anthology or poetry collection â€" so you might even get spotted!Whatever your motives for entering your work in to a poetry competition, whether you have one poem you’re particularly proud of, or you simply want to share your work with the general public, ent ering a competition is a great way to get to know the world of poetry in a new way, one which will boost your self-esteem both in general and as a poet.It may surprise you to know that the world of poetry competitions is diverse in several aspects.Some competitions involve writing poetry around a certain theme, while others impose a word limit, a certain rhyme scheme or a particular form such as a haiku, however, you don’t even have to be a poet yourself, as there are also poetry recitation competitions to choose from.If you’re looking for information on the different types of poetry competition, or you’d like to find a competition to enter, you’ve come to the right place!Find good poetry lessons here.

What Kind Of Job Can You Do With A Physics Degree

What Kind Of Job Can You Do With A Physics Degree Looking For The Best Jobs In Physics ChaptersWill I Have To Work In A Physics-Related Job If I Have A Physics Degree?How Can I Increase My Chances Of Success When Applying For Physics Graduate Jobs?Getting Your Physics Degree Is Just The First StepIf you’re considering taking a physics course at university, or you’re already studying a physics degree programme as an undergraduate and are considering your next steps after graduation, it’s only natural to spend some time thinking about what kind of jobs you might be able to get with a physics degree.There are a lot of wonderful skills that you learn as part of a physics degree that many employers value, whether that’s:Numerical skills;Report writing skills; orResearch skills.As a result, it can sometimes feel quite overwhelming when deciding what kind of jobs you might like to apply for after university. This article outlines the kinds of roles that physics graduates tend to enter into, and outlines ways that you can maximise your chances of landing your dream rol e.Some graduates with a physics degree end up working within business and finance. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Free-Photos, Pixabay)Government research;Oil and gas;Science and engineering; andTechnology, among many others.When it comes to specific roles, jobs that physics graduates could apply for which are usually related to their degree include jobs such as a nanotechnologist, physicist, astrophysicist, geophysicist, and research scientist.However, your options aren’t just limited there. You could also apply for roles that aren’t directly related to physics, including jobs such as a management consultant, patent attorney, accountant, meteorologist, or investment analyst. Equally, jobs that place emphasis on strong mathematics skills can also be good options for physics graduates to pursue.One of the more overlooked roles that a physics graduate with a bachelor of science degree could take is that of a physics teacher.Currently, the UK is facing a shortage of teachers in particular disciplines, including physics and mathematics. As a result, the government is keen to attract physics graduates to teaching roles, offering incentives such as bursaries in order to help get more teachers into the classroom.If you’ve always thought that teaching could be for you, then now is a great time to consider teaching as a career once you’ve completed your physics studies at your  university or your graduate studies.Note that the jobs described above are just some examples of the kinds of jobs that you could get, so keep an open mind when applying for positions and think about your own career goals. When pursuing your dream job try to focus on a field that interests you and apply for positions that you think you would like to have a career in.Not All Physics Graduates Enter The Workforce Straight AwayAnother thing that’s worthwhile considering is the fact that not every physics graduate will enter the workforce straightaway after graduating.Some may decide to take a ye ar or so out of study and work, perhaps to go travelling and explore the world, or to help out on a few charitable projects that are close to their heart.Equally, other graduates might decide that postgraduate study is right for them. This might mean taking the plunge and taking on a master's degree in physics or a related discipline with your university's physics department, such as:Theoretical physics;Engineering physics;Quantum mechanics;Thermodynamics; orAstronomy.Alternatively, graduates could take on a postgraduate study from a different field entirely, such as a subject from the humanities, or business and finance.If you feel as though your future may lie in academia and you would ultimately like to work towards a PhD, or you have a passion for physics and would love to study it further at your academic institution, then completing a form of postgraduate study is certainly worth considering.If it is a route you would like to go down and would like further advice, your schoolâ €™s or university’s careers adviser should be able to give you the information you need regarding the admission criteria of various universities that you would need to meet to undertake postgraduate study.You might have a long conversation about your future opportunities with your physics and maths tutor...An undergraduate physics degree could lead to further academic study. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Pixabay)How Can I Increase My Chances Of Success When Applying For Physics Graduate Jobs?It’s no secret that if you want to land your dream job you should try and stand out from the crowd as much as possible.While physics graduates generally have a lot of skills that appeal to employers, that’s not to say there aren’t other ways to also make your application shine.Which Skills Do Employers Value?There’s no single right answer when it comes to what qualities each employer looks for in job applicants, but as a general rule, employers may value some of the interdisciplinary skills that a physics graduate has picked up throughout the course of their degree, including:Communication skills;Data analysis and research skills;Problem-solving skills; andI.T. skills, potentially including some knowledge of programming.To use an example, if you apply for a position as an investment analyst, an employer would be very interested in the strength of your numerical and data processing skills, as it’s highly likely that part of your role will involve working on or with data models.What Else Can I Do To Boost My C.V.?One of the best ways to make an impact on potential employers in your prospective application for a role is to show that you have relevant work experience under your belt. This shows that you have some insight into what the job will entail and have experience working in a position that other applicants may not have.The kind of work experience or internship you should apply for will depend on the types of jobs you would like to apply f or. For instance, if you would really like to remain working within physics or the sciences, then gaining some work experience as a laboratory assistant may prove invaluable.You might also be in a position where your degree includes an industrial placement or work experience opportunities. If this is the case, be sure to make the most of your time on placement, as it can really help boost your chances of landing a job you’d like.If your course doesn’t offer an internship or industrial placement programme, don’t fret. There are plenty of organisations that offer summer internships that you can apply for. Generally speaking, such internships accept applicants that are in the penultimate year of their degree.If you need extra help finding the right internship opportunities for you, consider speaking to the careers adviser at your school or university for further guidance on what preparation you can undertake to get your C.V. ready to send to prospective employers.Your dream job c ould be one step closer with a physics degree. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, geralt, Pixabay)Getting Your Physics Degree Is Just The First StepHaving a degree in physics can be a real benefit when it comes to applying for jobs, as many employers will value the mathematical and analytical skills that you can bring to a role.However, in order to get your dream job, you also need to ensure that your academic performance is on par with the job’s requirements. Some positions will be offered to undergraduates on the proviso that they achieve at least a 2.1 in their degree, although some employers are also open to accepting candidates who have obtained a 2.2 or less.Given that it's in your best interest to get the best possible degree when leaving university, if you find yourself lagging behind in academic performance, or simply want to ensure you have the best chances of graduating with the highest degree possible, then you may want to consider engaging a physics and maths tutor to help get y ou up to speed with any areas of your physics curriculum that you’re unsure of.For example, you may want help with some numerical elements of the course or would like to revise some of the key areas and principles that were taught during the academic year.Equally, if you’re still at school studying for your A-Level exams, but know that you would like to study physics at university, then having a tutor help you as you prepare for your final exams could prove invaluable in helping you get the best result possible and maximising the chances of being accepted into your first choice university.Superprof has a range of physics tutors to choose from, who are able to offer remote and in-person tuition to suit a range of budgets. We also have blogs covering where to look for a physics and maths tutor and how much a physics tutor should cost.If you found this useful, why not check out our blog on 10 reasons to study physics!

How to Give Violin Lessons without Violin Qualifications

How to Give Violin Lessons without Violin Qualifications Can You Become a Violin Teacher without Qualifications? ChaptersViolin Teaching Positions for Self-Taught ViolinistsHow to Teach Violin Lessons without Qualifications: Be a Good Teacher First and Foremost!How to Teach Violin Tutorials OnlineTeaching Private Tutorials without any Violin QualificationsHow to Teach Violin in Small Music Centres and AssociationsThe violin is often seen as a hobby before an academic discipline.  While some people choose to study it academically (at a conservatoire, for example), it’s not your usual degree like maths or science.Lots of artists choose to learn instruments for themselves since they won't have to stress about their next recital, audition, concert, or whether or not they've been working on their repertoire. When it comes to the piano, guitar, or accordion, and even the violin, anything is possible. Those who taught themselves can enjoy performing concerts or as part of an ensemble just for the fun of it, unlike someone who attended a reputable school of music whose grades might have hinged on it. Whether learning a song or music theory, you can learn where to put your fingers and make the right notes without the help of a teacher or a degree in music.How can you make a career out of it?  How can you become a violin teacher without having studied at a Conservatoire?with a private tutor.However, it’s down to the musician at the end of the day.Being self-taught comes with a number advantages that help add to the tutor’s experience.By studying violin on their own, the budding violinist has to be resourceful and find the answers themselves, on the internet, or in music books. It also means that since they’re actively learning what music is, their brain is more receptive to the knowledge and will learn more efficiently.They’ll learn better than just being told something by the music teacher. A self-taught musician is a motivated musician, an essential quality for success.  It’s also important to learn not to ever give up even when facing difficulties. A lesson they’ll pass on to their students.A self-taught tutor is also aware of the difficulties that any student may encounter during their learning. They’ll also know how to overcome these difficulties, a quality a lot of students will be looking for.A self-taught musician can also be just as good a musician as a professionally trained musician. If a student at a conservatoire isn’t motivated, they’ll never be able to reach a high level in terms of their playing. Just because they did a summer music programme, have attended tonnes of expensive workshops, and got scholarships to all the best schools, that doesn't they're the best performer in the world! Just have a look at a list of some of the best self-taught musicians in the world!  Motivation can work wonders.Did you hear about the guy who built his own violin and then taught himself to play it?How to Teach Violin Lessons without Qualifications: Be a Good Teacher First and Foremost!Qualifications don’t necessarily give you the necessary qualities to be a good teacher, either.  Good teaching skills are instrumental when it comes to transferring knowledge. The best musicians might be incapable of transferring their knowledge to students.Even the alumni from some of the best schools can struggle to teach effectively so don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself just because your neighbour is a better violinist than you.  It doesn’t mean that your career as a teacher is over before it’s even begun. Being a teacher is more complex than that and requires a number of skills that have nothing to do with music:Knowing how to help students advance. You don’t need to show them that you’re violin virtuoso. The student’s more interested in how they can improve.Explaining things in different ways. If a student doesn’t understand what you’re trying to tell them, you’ll end up wasting tonnes of time. Try to find a new way to explain something so that the student can understand better.Making your tutorials intere sting. A lot of music school classes (especially those as part of the national curriculum) can become quite boring and dry after a few hours. You need to make sure your student's paying attention. The same is as true for adults as it is children. They need to be engaged from the start of the class to the end of it. How do you do it? By teaching them music they like and giving them regular challenges to overcome, for one.You have to make sure children are engaged when they learn. (Source: pixabay.com)These are skills that will come with experience and not necessarily qualifications or degrees.Discover also how to set your rates for tutoring the violin... CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Teach Violin Tutorials OnlineWhat can you do when you don’t have the necessary qualifications to teach in a state school?There are plenty of options for you.Why not do as the self-taught do and offer online tutoring lessons for the violin?You could start your own site or blog giving advice on the violin.  As a self-taught violinist yourself, you can speak from experience to other budding violinists.One question remains, though... How can you earn a living with a blog or a website?  Why not charge for tutorials?Many bloggers have earned a living like this by offering paid-for content for students on their site.  That doesn’t mean that all your content has to be behind a paywall. You could give free previews or perhaps even offer complementary videos for a small fee.You could work on giving private tutorials over the internet by making a blog. (Source: startupstockphotos.com)Make sure your prices are reasonable by check ing how much violin tutorials cost.  Some bloggers only offer free content. In this case, they need to have enough visits in order to earn their keep from ads. However, this requires a lot of views.Teaching on the internet is a good way to put together lessons the way you like to learn. If you can play the violin in an interesting way, there might be some people interested in your techniques and tuition.Teaching Private Tutorials without any Violin QualificationsIf new technologies aren’t your forté, there are other options you could look into. A lot of musicians are becoming private tutors, too.Whether you're a music student, doing it alongside your day-job, or full-time, anyone can become a private tutor. You don’t need any qualifications. There are websites that help tutors to find music students and vice-versa.Superprof is one of these sites. By signing up, you’ll gain access to a huge network of tutors and students. There is no admission process, you just have to complet e your user profile.Once your potential students get in touch, make sure you get back to them quickly. Your responsiveness shows your future students how serious and organised you are when it comes to teaching. The first hour is normally spent at the student’s home where you’ll get to know the student and work out the approach you’re going to take to make them a better violinist.Bit by bit, your profile will fill up with glowing reviews. Then other students will feel more comfortable hiring your as their private tutor.  Of course, you can still advertise your services on other websites, too. Today there are a lot of people offering these types of services online and the number of private tutors is only increasing.A lot of tutors also grow their networks with other musicians.Make sure that the music theory you're teaching is appropriate to your student's level. (Source: pixabay.com)How to Teach Violin in Small Music Centres and AssociationsWhile conservatoires aren’t always a ccessible to musicians without qualifications, there are other associations and smaller music centres where you could teach.As long as you’re skilled, motivated, and a good teacher, they’ll be happy to take you on. They're not just for the alumni of famous conservatoires.A lot of students get music lessons from smaller organisations. They are often more flexible than the conservatoires and offer several types of courses regardless of the musical instrument (violoncello, recorders, bass, clarinet, saxophone, etc.). Students participate in music classes and courses that only last a semester or take place in the evenings, for example. Additionally, they cover other aspects of music instruction, too, like:Music theoryIntroductions to musicEthnomusicologyCompositionMusic technology and working in a music studioImprovisationMusical trainingPlaying in a symphony orchestraPerforming in a choir and choral lessonsChamber musicContemporary music coursesConductingIndividual courses in music performanceTeachers are often asked to teach students about music theory, how to improvise, etc. If you’re not up to speed with these kinds of things, keep in mind that you’ll probably need to be au fait with notions such as:Reading musicTempoThe treble and bass clefRhythmMetronomesScalesNotes and their namesKeysWhen it comes to learning to play the violin, you’ll also need to know:How to hold the bowHow to tune a violinHow to read music for violinsFinger placementUsing your left handUsing the chinrestFingeringVibratoIf you know all of this, then there won't be too many surprises during the interview and you should probably apply to the job today.If you feel you still need some aural education, why not take some music theory tutorials alongside your violin training and study music a bit more? While a diploma isn't necessary, a good educator or instructor should have a broad range of knowledge.This could help you gain some foundations in music theory that will help you improve your playing.Now you should have an idea of the places you can teach people to play the violin.If music is not your thing, try to teach English online.

What You Need to Know About SAT Subject Tests

What You Need to Know About SAT Subject Tests Youve obviously heard about the SAT, but what about the SAT Subject Tests? These exams are college admission tests on specific subjects. Students can choose the tests that best showcase their strengths and weaknesses. The SAT Subject Tests measure students knowledge at the high school level. Here are a few things you and your teen need to know about these exams: There are 20 SAT Subject Tests available in five subject areas. Those areas are Mathematics (2), Science (3), English (1), History (2) and Languages (12). Each test is one hour long, multiple choice and scored on a 200-800-point scale. Exams are offered on the same days as the regular SAT. Thats six times a year, although not all 20 tests are offered on every date. The Language and Listening tests are only offered in November. Students cannot take the SAT on the same day they take an SAT Subject Test. However, students can take up to three SAT Subject Tests on a single test date. Students can use the SAT Subject Tests to prove they are ready for certain majors or programs. Colleges and universities sometimes require or recommend one or more SAT Subject Tests when they want to get a sense of students readiness for a particular subject or program. A student interested in majoring in math, for example, might choose to take both Mathematics Subject Tests as a way of highlighting this subject strength and interest on their application. The SAT Subject Tests offer the chance to highlight several subjects not tested on the SAT. There are Math and English Subject Tests (subjects covered on the SAT), but there are also Subject Tests on science, history and 12 different languages. For students interested in pursuing majors related to these subjects, SAT Subject Tests might be a good idea, especially if students already possess a high level of knowledge in those subjects. Preparation is different than it is for the SAT. Like the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests are based on what students learn in high school. However, these tests go deeper into a subject. Thus, it can be helpful to prepare individually for these tests, even though the best method (as with all standardized exams) is to work hard in high school classes. Want to find out if a school requires, recommends or considers SAT Subject Test scores? Call their admissions office or visit their website. Very few colleges/universities in the U.S. require SAT Subject Tests (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, certain colleges/schools within Cornell University and Harvey Mudd College are among them) but some schools recommend submitting such scores (e.g. Harvard, Georgetown, Brown). The best and most current source on this, of course, is the college/university itself. Huntington helps students perform their best on the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests. We know how to help students prepare effectively for these exams. Questions? Call us to learn more about our test prep programs. 1-800 CAN LEARN.

Inside the ADHD Brain Differences found in kids with ADHD

Inside the ADHD Brain Differences found in kids with ADHD A large multinational imaging study published last month in The Lancet provides additional evidence confirming what smaller studies have already shown: the brains of children with ADHD look different from those without ADHD. In this recent study, MRI brain scans were analyzed from 1,713 people with ADHD and 1,529 people without ADHD from 9 countries in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. Participants ranged in age from 4-63 years old. For children with ADHD, five brain regions showed smaller volume: the amygdala (emotion regulation), the hippocampus (memory), the putamen and caudate nucleus (both involved in motor skills and learning), and the nucleus accumbens (sensitivity to rewards). For adults with ADHD however, there were no differences in brain volume in these regions. From a scientific standpoint, studies like these help advance our understanding of ADHD and will hopefully one day lead to more targeted treatments and more specific diagnoses. For example, previous studies hadnt identified the amygdala, which helps us regulate our emotions, as a region of the brain that is smaller in kids with ADHD. Now, with this new information, ADHD researchers will likely invest more time and money into developing behavioral treatments and medications that target emotion regulation. From an everyday, real-world standpoint, these results also serve another purpose - one that may be equally as important. For parents and teachers who too often hear that ADHD is caused by poor parenting or poor teaching, and for children with ADHD who are too often told that they should just try harder and apply themselves, these results provide reassurance that ADHD is a real brain-based problem and that no one should be blamed for the fact that the symptoms exist. While parents very often find this research helpful when it comes to understanding ADHD overall, it also brings up important questions about what this research means for their children specifically: Can I ask our pediatrician to order a brain scan so I can confirm that my child has ADHD? Currently there is no brain scan methodology available to doctors that will help them diagnose ADHD. In research studies the reported differences in brain volume are actually very small. So small in fact that these differences are only observable and meaningful when you are able to combine brain scan data from multiple people into a single study. With the limited technology and information that we have available today, we cant reliably identify these differences in a single child with ADHD. Hopefully one day in the future this will be possible! If the differences were not found in adults, then does this mean that my childs brain will eventually catch up and they wont have ADHD anymore? Remember that this study compared brain regions in people with ADHD and people without ADHD. To qualify for the ADHD group, adults were required to have a current ADHD diagnosis. So, even without smaller brain volume, adults in this study were experiencing ADHD symptoms. This means that its not just differences in brain volume that causes ADHD symptoms, its other aspects of brain functioning as well. However, these study results do show us how the brain changes over time, and they may help explain why many ADHD symptoms look different in adults than they do in kids. If my childs brain is different, is there anything we can really do to help him get over his ADHD? Knowing that ADHD is a brain-based disorder doesnt change the fact that there are many effective behavioral, educational, and medication-based treatments that work for kids with ADHD. These treatments all help compensate for the brain differences that we see in these research studies. On top of this, many factors that have been shown to improve brain health and promote brain growth and development may help kids with ADHD if they are used long-term. This includes things like regular physical activity, healthy food and nutrition, getting enough sleep, close family relationships and friendships, and participating in a wide-range of academically and mentally challenging activities. Scientists are just starting to learn about differences in the ADHD brain, and their findings will eventually lead to new treatment options. In the meantime, we can use this information to help ourselves improve our understanding of ADHD and expand our thinking about ADHD treatments to include healthy lifestyle choices that promote long term brain growth and development. Read the full study here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215036617300494 ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.