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Parents of children with ADHD often
blame themselves for it. But studies show little evidence
that ADHD is caused by social factors or child-rearing methods,
indicating instead that genetics and neurobiology are to blame.
Environmental factors do not give rise to ADHD completely, but
only influence the situation and level of impairment the person
may experience.
There are six possible causes of
ADHD-like behavior: learning disability, a sudden change in the
child's life like loss of loved one, seizures, hearing difficulty,
brain dysfunction, and anxiety.
There are four major causes of ADHD,
namely, environmental agents, brain injury, food additives and
sugar, and genetics. Studies show that environmental agents such
as alcohol and cigarettes are risk factors for ADHD. Health professionals
recommend that it is best to avoid both cigarettes and alcohol
during pregnancy. Recent studies also link smoking and other
substance abuse for the duration of pregnancy to the disorder.
Early studies show that attention
disorders were caused by brain injury. Children who show some
signs of ADHD are most likely the ones who suffered from brain
injury.
It has been suggested that food
additives and sugar cause attention disorders, too. But recent
studies have shown that there are no considerable effects of
sugar on the behavior or learning of children.
Attention disorders are often hereditary,
passing from generation to generation. Attention disorders are
likely due to the genetic makeup of an individual. This is the
most scientific basis as to the cause of ADHD. Studies
show that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is more common
in children who have close relatives with the disorder.
Health professionals know that ADHD
is caused by a weakness in how the brain utilizes chemicals called
neurotransmitters. These chemicals assist in sending messages
between nerve cells in the brain. Children with ADHD do not make
enough chemicals in key areas in the brain which are responsible
for organizing one's thoughts. Without enough of these chemicals,
the organizing centers of the brain don't perform well.
When ADHD is diagnosed early on,
it is easier to build up strategies and coping methods that can
minimize its effects. If the child is not diagnosed early, parents
and teachers may become frustrated and even angry at the child's
behavior. The child himself may develop poor self-esteem over
these issues, too.
There is no official test to determine
ADHD, so it's crucial that parents, doctors and teachers all
work together to share information about the child so that he
or she can be diagnosed correctly.
Scientists and specialists are looking
for further evidences that can support that ADHD does not branch
from the home environment, but from scientific causes such as
genetics and neurobiology. Knowing the true causes of ADHD can
lessen a parent's feeling of guilt for the condition.
For more information about understanding
and managing the effects of ADHD please visit Recognizing and Treating
ADHD at http://www.ourfamilyshealth.com/recognizing-adhd
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