Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity, is characterized as having an inattentive and impulsive nature. Those who suffer from ADD or ADHD are extremely active, fidgety, talkative, and restless. They have difficulty paying attention, forget things easily, and interrupt others. ADD/ADHD children face a lifetime of social, psychological, and physical repercussions.
Genetic Causes of ADD/ADHD
There are likely genetic roots to ADD/ADHD. Many children with the disorder have at least one close relative who also suffers from it. Scientists are currently studying the incidence of a child having ADD/ADHD when at least one parent is a carrier of the gene.
Nutritional Causes of ADD/ADHD
While the National Institute of Health has determined that nutritional deficiencies only affect about five percent of children with ADHD, some scientists still support nutrition as a contributing cause. Some nutritional causes of ADD/ADHD may be:
- Food allergies to milk, eggs, nuts, and wheat
- Increase in simple sugars
- Calcium or magnesium deficiencies can cause poor concentration or memory
- High copper intake can also cause poor concentration or memory. Copper can be found in chocolate products, coffee, tea, nuts, and seeds
- Iron deficiencies can also provoke symptoms of ADD/ADHD and cause slower brain development
- Low levels of Tyrosine, an amino acid, can also aggravate symptoms
- Ingestion of toxins such as lead through dust, soil, or flaking paint is being studied as a cause of ADD/ADHD
- Also being researched are the effects of artificial colors and flavors on ADD/ADHD
Surely, if a child has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, it does no harm to remove these substances from his diet to mark any improvement.
Brain Disturbances Caused by Chemical Intake during Pregnancy
A low percentage of ADD/ADHD patients have some sort of significant brain trauma, according to research done by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association. Brain activity is reduced in parts of the brain that cause inattention in ADD patients. However, the cause of this lessened brain activity is still being researched.
It is, however, known that as the brain is being developed in a fetus, it undergoes a complex and delicate process. If a woman uses drugs or alcohol or smokes cigarettes during pregnancy, she can vastly alter her fetus’ brain chemistry. All of these chemicals have been shown to cause hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity in children. It is imperative that women who are pregnant cease drinking, smoking, or using illegal drugs, and that she receives prenatal care throughout her pregnancy.
Exacerbating ADD/ADHD
ADD/ADHD is not caused by, but can be exacerbated by too much television, excessive sugar intake, and poor discipline. Television and music certainly have the capability to affect a person’s mood. Violent movies or songs can especially encourage children to feel aggressive and scattered. Conversely, classical music often leads to calm, soothing emotions.
Poor discipline can also aggravate symptoms of ADD/ADHD. It complicates matters when these children have parents that neglected to teach them proper discipline. Excessive instability in the home, such as violence or abuse, can also exacerbate symptoms. Inadequate mental stimulation by the parents, lack of attention, rejection, or poor role modeling can all intensify the signs of ADD/ADHD.
Discussion
Certainly, the root causes of ADD/ADHD are variable and complex. Many factors may play a part, including heredity, nutrition, prenatal behaviors and the home environment. However, if a child has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, it is beneficial to consider all of the possible causes in deciding treatment. Treatment should be multi-faceted, including not just the possibility of medication, but also looking at a child’s diet, habits, and home life. Parents should be interviewed by their physician or psychologist and instructed about ways in which they can possibly restrain the disorder. Treating each cause individually can increase a child’s chances of living a normal life.
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Abby Deliz - Abby Deliz pursued writing extensively through high school and college, and she was published several times. Most notably, she published ...
