Home > Symptoms of Anxiety > Anxiety in Children and Teens > ADHD > NIMH What Causes ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - What Causes ADHD?

Source: National Institute of Mental Health; NIH Publication No. 3572 (extract)

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 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.

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 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.

Over the last few decades, scientists have come up with possible theories about what causes 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 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 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 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.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health; NIH Publication No. 3572 (extract)
Added: 29th June 2007

Looking for help with a problem your child is having with ADHD?

If your child is suffering from an emotional or psychological health problem, then be assured... help is available.

Children with psychological or emotional difficulties such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often respond really well to the therapies available today that use the power of your child's imagination.

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often respond really well to things like hypnotherapy, where they get to enjoy using the power of their imagination. They often come away from hypnotherapy sessions feeling 'lighter'.

Avon Hypnotherapy's Paul Douglass describes the hypnotherapy sessions for children...

"They feel comfortable with a non-judgemental therapist, and can often allow themselves to express feelings of embarrasment, guilt or shame for example, that they can't 'offload' anywhere else.

The children often really enjoy the sessions, and indeed, the mums and dads that get involved often gain a lot from the session too! "

Read the full article: Hypnotherapy for Children, by Paul Douglass MIAPH Acc.

Avon Hypnotherapy also offer a completely FREE 'find-a-therapist' service.

Using the 'find-a-therapist' service, they will put you in touch with a therapist in your area trained in the use of hypnotherapy for children.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Diagnosis - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Disorders that Sometimes Accompany ADHD - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Hyperactivity-Impulsivity - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Inattention - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Introduction - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Is It Really ADHD? - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Recent Studies on Causes of ADHD - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Some Simple Behavioral Interventions - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Symptoms - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - The Family and the ADHD Child - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - The Treatment of ADHD - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Treatment of ADHD in Adults - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Preschool-Age Children - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Your ADHD Child and School - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)