What causes ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) ?

 

Like many other diseases, ADHD is probably the result of a combination of factors. In addition to genetics, researchers are studying the possible environmental factors, and are studying how brain injuries, nutrition and social environment can contribute to the development of ADHD.

Genetic factors
Inherited from our parents, genes are the "blueprints" of who we are. The results of several international studies of twins show that ADHD often occurs widely in families. Researchers are studying several genes that can make more likely to develop this disorder people. They know the genes involved may someday help researchers prevent the disorder before developing symptoms.

A study of children with ADHD has shown that those who carry a particular version of a particular gene have thinner area of brain tissue in areas of the brain associated with attention. This research showed that the difference was not permanent; however, as children with this gene grew in some of them the brain developed a normal level of thickness and was in those where ADHD symptoms improved with age.

Researchers are also studying the genetic variations that may or may not be inherited, such as duplication of a segment of DNA. These variations copy number, may include many genes. Some variations occur more frequently in people with ADHD than in person affected by the disorder, suggesting a possible role in the development.

Environmental factors
Studies suggest a possible link between smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy and childhood ADHD. Similarly, preschool children who are exposed to high levels of lead (e.g. in some paints), have a higher risk of developing ADHD.

Brain injury
Children who have suffered a brain injury may show some similar to those of ADHD behaviors. However, only a small percentage of children with ADHD have suffered a traumatic brain injury. 

Sugar intake
the idea that the re swims sugar causes or worsens ADHD symptoms is very popular, but there is no serious study to support it. During an investigation, it was provided to children foods containing sugar and sugar substitute every two days. Children receiving sugar showed no different behavior in the learning of those receiving sugar substitutes. Another study in which children received higher than average amounts of sugar substitutes or sugar showed similar results, concluding that the higher or lower intake of sugar was not decisive in developing wing ADHD behaviors.

Food Additives
However, a small number of children with ADHD may be sensitive to food dyes, flavors artificial, preservatives and other food additives. It has been shown that children with a diet without additives, experience less ADHD symptoms in a diet additive.

How is ADHD diagnosed?
Children mature at different rates and have different personalities, temperaments and energy levels. Most children are distracted, act impulsively and struggling to concentrate at one time or another. Sometimes, these normal factors may be mistaken for ADHD. ADHD symptoms usually appear early in life, often between the ages of 3 and 6 years, and because symptoms vary from one person to another, the disorder can be difficult to diagnose. Parents may notice that your child loses interest in things before other children, or seems constantly distracted or out of control. Often teachers perceive the first symptoms when a child has difficulty following classroom rules, or often suffers from disconnections and is blank or missing. 

No test can diagnose medically that a child has a disorder ADHD. Instead, the psychotherapist needs to gather information about the child and his behavior and the environment in which it operates.

The pediatrician or mental health specialist in the first instance, try to rule out other possibilities for the symptoms described by parents. For example, certain situations, events or conditions may cause temporary behaviors of a child they are similar to ADHD.

The pediatrician or mental health specialist, checked in the first instance if the child:

• It is experiencing seizures undetected that they might be associated with other diseases
• It has a middle ear infection that causes hearing problems
• Hard of hearing or vision undetected
• You have any health problem that affects thinking and behavior
• It has a learning disability
• It has anxiety or depression or other psychiatric problems that can cause symptoms such as ADHD

The specialist will also check the college or school and medical records for clues to see if the con figuration school or home child manifests are unusually stressful or interrupted and collect information from parents and teachers of children . Coaches, babysitters and other adults who know the child well can also be consulted for diagnosis of 360 degrees.

The mental health specialist will also ask and inquire as to the following, adjusting the intensity of the symptom:

• They are excessive behavior and affect all aspects of a child's life?
• Are they more frequent in this child compared to classmates or games?
• Are conduct an ongoing problem or a response to a temporary situation?
• Do the behaviors occur in several settings or only in one place, such as the playground, the classroom, or at home?

The specialist will pay close attention to the child's behavior in different situations. Most children with ADHD are more able to control their behavior in situations where they are getting individual attention, that when they are free to focus on enjoyable activities. Such situations are less important in the evaluation. A child can also be evaluated to see how he or she acts in social situations and can perform tests and tests of intellectual ability and academic performance, to see if he or she has a learning disability.

Finally, after gathering all this information, the psychologist or psychotherapist perform a thorough analysis to determine whether the child meets the criteria for a positive diagnosis of ADHD.

How is ADHD treated?
Currently available treatments are designed to reduce ADHD symptoms and improve the daily functioning of the child, adolescent or adult. Treatments include medications, different types of psychotherapy, education and training, as well as a combination of treatments.

Tweet