Looking for Answers

As parents, when we first receive the news that our child may have ADHD, we immediately ask ourselves what we did wrong. We look for causes in our parenting styles, choices, and past events that may have lead to this condition. Drop that burden because chances are, there is nothing that you have done to “create” this condition in your child. While there is no definite known cause of ADHD, research has shown that there are several different factors that are present in many children with ADHD.

Biological and Genetic Factors

Because ADHD tends to run in the family, a common belief is that is inherited genetically. There is research that shows that many times when a parent has ADHD, their child will have it as well. Here are a few biological and genetic factors that have been found common in children with ADHD:

  • Chemical imbalances in the brain - It has been shown that children with ADHD often have an imbalance of chemicals that regulate attention and activity levels. The chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine are often lower than normal in ADHD children, causing a lack of attention and decrease in control.
  • Brain structure - Some studies have shown that the structure of the brain is different in children with ADHD. Differences have been found in several aspects of the brain, such as overall size, size of frontal lobes, white matter vs. gray matter, and fuctionality of the brain. Tests to determine brain structure are not used to diagnose ADHD, but are currently used in newer research to learn more about the disorder.



Environmental Factors

There are also some environmental factors that have been commonly found among children with ADHD. These are non-genetic and include the following:

  • Smoking, alcohol use, and drug use during pregnancy - It has been found that ADHD is more common in children whose mothers used cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs during pregnancy. These habits can affect the developing fetus in many adverse ways, and ADHD appears to be an outcome as well.
  • Exposure to lead - It is believed that when small children are exposed to lead, either through paint on toys or other sources, they have a higher tendency of developing ADHD.
  • Low birth weight - Low birth weight is defined as less than 3.3 pounds. A dangerous birth scenario all in its own, no doubt, and now a link has been found between low birth weight and ADHD children.
  • Low omega-3 fatty acids - These fatty acids help with brain development and a shortage of them has been found in many children who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Common Myths

There are many factors that have been proven NOT to cause ADHD. While some of these factors may cause children to become hyper or act differently (and worsen symptoms of ADHD), it does not develop a chronic condition. Some of the more common myths are:

  • Sugar (either too much or too little)
  • Foods (allergies, aspartame, preservatives)
  • TV
  • Caffeine
  • Food colorings and dyes
  • Poor home life
  • Poor school systems
  • Fluorescent lights
  • Video games
  • Lack of vitamins

Ultimately, while it seems inevitable that parents want answers and will search through their past to find them, it’s best to work with the present situation and focus on the future. Until a definite cause is determined, it does no good to beat yourself up over something that you may have or have not done. Instead, work to find a treatment plan that works for your family and your child and helps them to be successful.