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Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder | ADHD Causes | ADHD Prevention
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) is a condition that becomes apparent
in some children
in the preschool and early school years.
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What
Causes ADHD?
One of the first questions a parent will have
is "Why? What went wrong?" "Did I do something to cause this?"
There is little compelling evidence
at this time that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) can arise purely from
social factors or child-rearing methods. Most substantiated causes
appear to fall in the realm of neurobiology and genetics.
This is not to say that environmental
factors may not influence the severity of the disorder, and especially
the degree of impairment and suffering the child may experience, but
that such factors do not seem to give rise to the condition by
themselves. |
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The parents' focus should be on looking
forward and finding the best possible way to help their child.
Scientists are studying causes in an effort to identify better ways to
treat, and perhaps someday, to prevent ADHD. They are finding
more and more evidence that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) does not stem from the home environment, but from biological
causes. Knowing this can remove a huge burden of guilt from parents
who might blame themselves for their child's behavior. |
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Over the last few decades, scientists
have come up with possible theories about what causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD). Some of these theories have led to dead ends, some to exciting
new avenues of investigation.
Environmental Agents.
Studies have shown a possible correlation between the use of
cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy and risk for ADHD in
the offspring of that pregnancy. As a precaution, it is best during
pregnancy to refrain from both cigarette and alcohol use.
Another environmental agent that may be associated with a higher risk
of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) is high levels of lead in the bodies of young preschool children.
Since lead is no longer allowed in paint and is usually found only in
older buildings, exposure to toxic levels is not as prevalent as it
once was. Children who live in old buildings in which lead still
exists in the plumbing or in lead paint that has been painted over may
be at risk.
Brain Injury.
One early theory was that attention disorders were caused by brain
injury. Some children who have suffered accidents leading to brain
injury may show some signs of behavior similar to that of ADHD, but
only a small percentage of children with ADHD have been found to have
suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Food Additives and Sugar.
It has been suggested that attention disorders are caused by refined
sugar or food additives, or that symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) are exacerbated by sugar or food additives. In 1982, the National
Institutes of Health held a scientific consensus conference to discuss
this issue. It was found that diet restrictions helped about 5 percent
of children with ADHD, mostly young children who had food allergies. A
more recent study on the effect of sugar on children, using sugar one
day and a sugar substitute on alternate days, without parents, staff,
or children knowing which substance was being used, showed no
significant effects of the sugar on behavior or learning.
In another study, children whose
mothers felt they were sugar-sensitive were given aspartame as a
substitute for sugar. Half the mothers were told their children were
given sugar, half that their children were given aspartame. The
mothers who thought their children had received sugar rated them as
more hyperactive than the other children and were more critical of
their behavior.
Genetics.
Attention disorders often run in families, so there are likely to be
genetic influences. Studies indicate that 25 percent of the close
relatives in the families of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) children also have ADHD, whereas the rate is about 5 percent in
the general population. Many studies of twins now show that a strong
genetic influence exists in the disorder.
Researchers continue to study the genetic contribution to ADHD
and to identify the genes that cause a person to be susceptible to
ADHD. Since its inception in 1999, the Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder Molecular Genetics Network has served as a
way for researchers to share findings regarding possible genetic
influences on ADHD.
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Source: NCIC/NIH
This page is about
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) .
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Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder | ADHD Causes | ADHD Prevention
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