The future of ADHD

Pediatrician Yair Bannett studies and treats ADHD in preschool-age children. His interests stem from watching too many families struggle to understand their child’s behavior. He now focuses on improving frontline care using artificial intelligence to analyze electronic health records. One recent study explored whether doctors are making appropriate non-drug interventions before choosing to medicate children. Through his research, he hopes to raise the standard of ADHD care for thousands – and perhaps millions – of children. Early diagnosis and better care can prevent later problems, Bannett tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast. Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu . Episode Reference Links: Stanford Profile: ​​ Yair Bannett Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Russ Altman introduces guest Yair Bannett, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Stanford University. (00:03:44) Why Study ADHD Yair’s path from primary care pediatrics to ADHD research. (00:04:32) Understanding ADHD The core symptoms and diagnostic criteria for ADHD. (00:05:57) Diagnosing ADHD in Youth Why diagnosis is challenging and relies on clinical judgment. (00:08:21) Known Causes of ADHD What is known about biological origins and environmental influence. (00:10:08) Geographic and Cultural Differences The variations in ADHD prevalence across regions and populations. (00:11:37) ADHD Across Countries Prevalence of ADHD globally and challenges with monitoring diagnosis. (00:12:23) Natural History of Untreated ADHD The lifelong persistence of ADHD and associated risks when untreated. (00:14:28) ADHD Diagnosis in Adults The challenges in identifying and diagnosing ADHD later in life. (00:16:27) ADHD Treatments An overview of the two treatment interventions used to treat ADHD. (00:18:16) Stimulant Medications The effectiveness and long-term benefits of stimulant treatments. (00:21:30) Non-Stimulant Medications When and why alternative medications for ADHD are used. (00:22:31) Non-pharmacological Interventions The alternative interventions used outside pharmacological treatments. (00:23:18) Reducing Household Chaos Strategies for structure and behavior management within the home. (00:24:55) Measuring Quality of ADHD Care Using electronic health records and AI to improve treatment. (00:28:10) Importance of Early Diagnosis The benefits of identifying ADHD before school entry. (00:29:29) Future In a Minute Rapid-fire Q&A: applying AI, collaboration, and theatre dreams. (00:31:55) Conclusion Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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The future of ADHD is an episode from The Future of Everything presented by Stanford Engineering by Stanford Engineering & Russ Altman.

This episode is 00:32:58 long.

This episode was published on Jan 16, 2026.

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