Libsyn Directory

Ep. 224: Should I Medicate My Child? – Part 2 with Lance Steinberg, M.D.

Release Date: 02/11/2025

Ep. 239: Balancing Summer Rest and Learning Support for Diverse Learners with Ashley Harding

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are happy to welcome Ashley Harding to the podcast this episode. Ashley is a fourth-generation educator and is deeply committed to educational equity. She holds degrees from USC and Tufts University in Child Development, and her career spans more than a decade, during which she has supported students and families in private and independent schools and contributed to global education initiatives in South Africa and Belize. Formerly the Director of External Engagement for a national school network, she has co-authored research on disparities affecting Black and Latino males and has been...

Ep. 238: Dismantling DEI and the Department of Education: How Changes Impact Your Child with Vickie Brett & Amanda Selogie

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are excited to welcome back guests Vickie Brett and Amanda Selogie of the . Vickie Brett is a bilingual attorney who advocates for families' legal rights via the Inclusive Education Project, with a focus on empowering monolingual Spanish-speaking families. Dedicated to supporting clients facing challenges in the education system, she actively contributes pro bono work via the Los Angeles Superior Court and UCI Law School’s Special Education Law Project. Amanda Selogie holds a background in Child and Adolescent Development and law, with a strong focus on civil rights and...

Ep. 237: Beyond Accommodations: How Neurodivergent Students Can Thrive in College with Eric Endlich, Ph.D

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

Joining us this week is guest . Dr. Endlich is a clinical psychologist and founder of , which specializes in guiding neurodivergent students through the college application process. An advocate and expert in the field and a neurodivergent adult himself, he co-teaches a UC Irvine course for educational consultants, manages a large Facebook group for parents of neurodivergent students, and serves on advisory boards related to autism and neurodiversity. Dr. Endlich joins us this week to discuss the far too often overlooked challenges that neurodivergent students face when transitioning from high...

Ep. 236: Beyond Racial Stress: Empowering Teens to Navigate Cultural Identity and Build Resilience with Dr. Ryan DeLapp

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We warmly welcome to Diverse Thinking Different Learning to discuss how to help teens manage and overcome racial stress. Dr. Ryan C.T. DeLapp is a licensed psychologist and the founder of the REACH program at The Ross Center, specializing in helping individuals cope with racial and cultural stress. With more than ten years of research and clinical practice, he has developed evidence-based treatments to build resilience in teens and adults. Dr. DeLapp has also authored more than twenty publications and delivered over 100 presentations on assessing and treating racial and cultural stress. His...

Ep. 235: Why Stress Sabotages Learning and How Parents and Educators Can Help with Jerome Schultz, PhD

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are happy to welcome to Diverse Thinking Different Learning this week. Dr. Schultz is a clinical neuropsychologist and lecturer at Harvard Medical School with nearly four decades of experience working with children and young adults with learning and behavioral challenges. A former special education teacher and author of , he has held academic positions at several universities, directed multiple clinics, and maintained a private practice in Wellesley, MA for over three decades. He holds degrees from Ohio State and Boston College and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric...

Ep. 234: Understanding and Addressing Math Anxiety with Aditya Nagrath, PhD

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

This week on Diverse Thinking Different Learning, we welcome . Dr. Nagrath is the founder of and helps students overcome math anxiety, rapidly advancing their skills with just ten minutes of practice a few times a week. He holds a PhD in Mathematics and Computer Sciences and has over three decades of experience as a software engineer, entrepreneur, author, and speaker, working on a wide range of projects from atomic clocks to mobile apps. Dr. Nagrath joins us for this episode to discuss mathematics anxiety - where it comes from, how it’s misunderstood, how to address it and more. A...

Ep. 233: Body-Based Interventions for Neurodivergent Students with Megan Beardmore, PhD, NCSP

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

Joining us this week on Diverse Thinking Different Learning is . Dr. Beardmore is a licensed school psychologist with expertise in assessing and treating children, adolescents, and young adults with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities, as well as co-occurring anxiety and depression. She received her training at the University of Arizona, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The Help Group, and worked at UCLA’s Center for Autism Research. She uses evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and breathwork to support emotional regulation...

Ep. 232: Turning Kids’ Passions and Enthusiasms into Superpowers with Barry Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Re-Air)

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are doing a reairing this week of of Diverse Thinking Different Learning in which we talked with . This episode is being revisited at a perfect time because this is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. In this episode, Dr. Prizant helps us understand why it’s important to stop labeling certain behaviors in children as intentional defiance or difficulty. Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with nearly five decades of experience working with individuals with autism and their families. He serves as a Visiting Scholar at Brown University and directs Childhood Communication...

Ep. 231: How to Use Students’ Interest and Creativity to Enhance Learning with Victoria Waller, Ed.D.

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are so happy to be welcoming back to the podcast this episode. Dr. Waller is a seasoned reading specialist and educational therapist with more than four decades of experience helping children with learning differences, especially ones who teachers have sadly given up on. She is the author of , a finalist for the Foreword Reviews Best Book of the Year in 2022, and has received multiple accolades for her contributions to education. Holding advanced degrees in reading and learning differences, she has shared her expertise nationwide and internationally via speaking engagements and on...

Ep. 230: Executive Functioning & Navigating the Yearly Calendar with Michelle Porjes

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are honored to welcome returning guest Michelle Porjes to the show for this episode. Michelle is a licensed educational psychologist and credentialed school psychologist in California with over twenty-five years of experience in education. She holds advanced degrees in Educational and School Psychology from the University of Denver and the University of South Florida, specializing in learning, emotional, and behavioral assessments, as well as teacher coaching and program development. Michelle runs an executive function practice and has authored two e-books on the topic. Michelle joins us in...

More Episodes

Following up on last week’s episode, we are joined once again by Lance Steinberg, M.D. to further discuss the complex issue of medicating children with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and if you missed part 1 of the discussion, be sure to go back and listen to that before diving into part 2!

In this continuation of our discussion, Dr. Steinberg sheds more light on the approach that is required when considering medication, stressing that a thoughtful evaluation is important before immediately jumping to medical solutions.

Dr. Steinberg offers some insights into the FDA-approved medications, why it's important to adhere to age guidelines, and the differences between stimulant options. Dr. Steinberg also explores balancing managing side effects while optimizing benefits, the use of non-stimulant alternatives, and the possibility of off-label treatments for unique situations.

The conversation touches on the variety of medication forms available and why it is necessary to customize treatments to each child's needs, taking into account academic, social, and psychological factors. Dr. Steinberg’s practical advice on starting with low doses, monitoring progress, and adjusting strategies offers a great perspective on this important part of mental health care for youth.

Show Notes:

[1:20] - Karen stresses that it's important to take a thorough, holistic approach before considering ADHD medication for children.
[2:08] - Dr. Lance Steinberg discusses why understanding FDA age limits and medication safety for ADHD treatment is important.
[5:34] - Stimulant medications are generally highly effective for ADHD.
[8:32] - Dr. Steinberg advises starting ADHD medication at low doses in order to minimize possible side effects.
[11:28] - Regular evaluation is important when managing ADHD treatment via medications.
[13:27] - Non-stimulant and off-label medications can also be effective for ADHD, especially with comorbid conditions.
[16:16] - Dr. Steinberg discusses the effectiveness and side effects of off-label medications like Modafinil for motivation.
[19:03] - Dr. Steinberg talks about structured support for executive functioning.
[21:37] - Intervention requires a holistic approach and involves therapists, coaches, and team communication.
[24:00] - Dr. Steinberg stresses careful medication management for neurodiverse individuals.
[26:04] - He touches upon combining stimulants and non-stimulants for ADHD treatment.
[29:18] - Dr. Steinberg warns about the careful combination of SSRIs and stimulants due to potential electrical abnormalities.

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