Neurodiversity Research: Studies and Collaborations
Our science-based research efforts are purposed to design and implement studies that reveal critical information on various topics that intersect or impact neurodiversity. We acknowledge the need for research on co-occurring conditions, environmental factors, diagnosis, treatment/intervention, prevalence/incidence rates, access to care challenges and victories, ethnic/cultural concerns and strengths, and inequity/disparity obstacles and solutions. We aim to foster practical, tangible research and data to help create a network of services and resources that when orchestrated effectively becomes the infrastructure that efficiently mitigates access to quality care issues.
HU Healthy Kidz ADHD Research Study
Howard University’s ADHD/Clinical Sleep lab has wholeheartedly embraced the undertaking of telling the diversified story of everyday Americans who endure ADHD. This study compared the sleep quality and sleep quantity of children without ADHD to children who have the diagnosis and were taking medication for it either every day or only during the school week. It also compared these same variables for children with ADHD who were not taking medication at all. Similarly, this study examined sleep behaviors and parental distress between these three groups (unmedicated-UN, continuously medicated-CM, and partially-medicated-PM) of children with ADHD, and group of children who do not have ADHD (controls). Parents of youths between the ages of 6 and 11 were invited to join in improving the quality of life for ADHD-diagnosed children and their families via research.
Key variables in our study:
- Sleep Quality
- Sleep Quantity
- Severity of ADHD Symptoms
- Dosage and administration of ADHD Medications
- Parenting stress
- Various environmental factors
- Diversity factors and health disparities
Parental distress factors
- Lack of organization or daily routines typically leads to stress or feelings of anxiety
- Lack of effective communication in the household between one's spouse and/or the children
- Unclear or loose boundaries that do not reinforce the parental hierarchy
- Inconsistent punishment and reward systems
What has been learned so far:
Current results thus far from Phase 1 and 2 revealed: Children without ADHD obtain more, uninterrupted quality sleep than the groups of ADHD children we observed. Children with ADHD engage in 2-3 times as many bedtime obstacles, sleep disruptions, and morning tiredness/irritability behaviors than children without ADHD. (CM) children obtain increased sleep quality and sleep quantity compared to (UN) and (PM) children with ADHD. Lastly, children without ADHD obtain approximately two hours of extra sleep on the weekend, while CM children with ADHD obtain 30 minutes more than what they get during the week, PM children with ADHD don’t obtain any additional sleep on the weekend, and UN children with ADHD obtain less sleep on weekends. While the experience of military families compared to non-military families has yet to be analyzed, recruitment has just ended and we anticipate publishing our findings this year!
AI Wearables
A software engineering company that pairs wearable devices measuring biometric data and a synchronized mental wellness app to deliver Just-In-Time therapeutic interventions (in the context of a stressful situation or trigger) is interested in learning how their innovative technology could be utilized in assisting people who have a diagnosis of ADHD.
If you'd like to answer a few anonymous survey questions that look at triggers, and impulsive decision-making behaviors, please feel free to proceed with Scanning the QR Code.
Share Your Research Efforts
We'd love to hear what you're doing for research and how we can help support you an your team.
The gift of your giving keeps our research going!
Your support and contributions help us to conduct meaningful 'Access to Care' research.
