As parents, we often wonder why our children have developed this way and quite often blame ourselves for the challenges they face growing up. Society does not make it easy for us, as friends and family often provide their own insight as to how our children became hyperactive or inattentive. Do the phrases “You have to be stronger with discipline, he/she is just spoiled”, “It’s all that sugar your are feeding him, makes a kid crazy”, “Manners, that’s what he/she needs, I just don’t know what his/her parents are teaching him/her at home”, sound familiar? What these friends and family sometimes fail to remember is that ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, worldwide (Goldstein & Goldstein, 1992).
Research on attention deficit and hyperactivity in children dates as far back as early as the 1900’s. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has recorded the disorder through the decades evolving from the terms minimal brain dysfunction, to numerous descriptions of attention deficit and hyperactivity (2014). Let’s look at a video describing the progression of the now termed ADHD.
News and media have compellingly indicated food containing dyes, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavours, high sugar content, and chemicals, could be a cause of ADHD. However, this evidence has not been conclusive. (Nelson & Isreal, 2009). Throughout these studies, no specified cause has been undeniably identified. However, what we do know so far is that ADHD is a biological condition, that has lifelong implications). Following is a short YouTube video, providing some background information about the facts and fiction of causes of ADHD.
Although the causes of ADHD has yet to be completely understood, compelling evidence, results from studies consistently indicate genetics (predisposition or history in the family), biological influences (size and density of the brain), and chemicals in the brain (Specifically speaking about dopamine and serotonin) are known causes of the disorder. This next video briefly describes each of these studies.
Solid evidence concludes that genetics play a strong role in the onset of ADHD. However, it would seem that the specific genetics of ADHD are far from simple (Goldstein, 2011). A child with ADHD is 10-35% more likely to have a parent who also suffers from ADHD (Nelson & Isreal, 2009). Understanding the genes convoluted might make it possible for researchers in the future to prevent the signs and indicators of this disorder from occurring. Also, studying the genes of students already affected by the disorder could lead to more accurate treatments (Nikolas & Burt, 2010).
Biological influences in patients exhibiting ADHD include the size and density measurement of the brain structures. It has been identified that patients with ADHD have a smaller cortex, which is the area that controls thought and action. They have also been identified as having thinner and smaller frontal lobe nerve tissues, which control the impulsivity and socialization (Eme, 2007). Studies are still trying to pinpoint why these changes occur in the developing brain of a patient with ADHD.
When comparing chemicals of a patient with ADHD versus a patient without, a lower level of dopamine has been identified in the brain. This chemical level plays a strong role in the ability to focus and pay attention. This also supports the theory that stimulant medication works to speed up the process processing speed of the brain, making it easier for patients to remain focused (Quist, 2000). We will discuss the controversial topic of medication as a means for treatment in ADHD, in our next blog.
References
Eme, R. (2007).
Sex differences in child-onset, life-course-persistent conduct disorder. A
review of biological influences. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(5),
607-627.
[Howcast]. (2012, May 5). What
Causes ADHD? [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxwIIzgp2xQ
Levine, Liza. (2007, February
21). The ADHD Child - ADHD Help Video
#1 [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIRlNP-5VMg
Levine, Aliza. (2007, April
27). ADHD Help Video #3 ADHD FACTS [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJIU1ybbYWI
Nikolas, M.
A., & Burt, S. (2010). Genetic and environmental influences on ADHD
symptom dimensions of inattention and hyperactivity: A meta-analysis. Journal
of Abnormal Psychology, 119(1), 1-17. doi:10.1037/a0018010
Quist, J.
L. (2000). Evidence for the serotonin HTR2A receptor gene as a
susceptibility factor in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Molecular
Psychiatry, 5(5), 537.
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