Are There Other Causes of ADHD?

Many people wonder about the causes.  The overwhelming majority of cases are probably genetic. But what about other things that might contribute to ADHD?

Isn't it Bad Parenting? Not really.  Bad parenting makes it worse, and impulsive parents with impulsive children are not a good combination.  And parents who improve their parenting skills find it easier to manage, but ADHD doesn't go away with improved parenting.

Does watching too much TV cause ADHD?  There has been at least one study indicating that kids who watch high levels of TV were more inclined to have ADHD.  However, it does not convince me that excessive TV watching causes ADHD. For example, if it is genetic, isn't it logical that an ADHD mother or father would find it easier and less stressful to turn on the TV or monitor the TV watching less.  Or if your child is ADHD and driving you crazy, it may be easier to entertain them with the TV. And children with ADHD tend to like more high stimulation activities. So, ADHD may still be mostly genetic, and they do watch more TV! 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:

• Parents should limit their children's TV viewing to one to two hours of quality programming a day.
• Parents should take advantage of high-quality programs offered on videocassettes or from other sources.

What about Diet or Food Allergies?

Diet and food allergies may play some role in ADHD. Because there are so many variations, large scale studies have not been helpful in sorting out this factor. There may be a few people whose ADHD symptoms are caused by or are worse with certain foods or ingredients. This is important for some people, but at this point it is not believed that diet and additives don't play a very important role. Allergies to gluten, for example, may create symptoms similar to ADHD.

What about Sugar? A study to discover if parents could tell the difference if their children were on sugar proved that most parents couldn't tell. What it did demonstrate is that parents who thought their children had taken sugar reported that they were more hyperactive...even if the children hadn't really had more sugar.

I've heard about Sleep Problems Associated with ADHD. This may be an important consideration to rule out.  Snoring, and sleep apnea (momentarily stopping breathing that causes the person to wake up, and thus not rest well) might be important clues. However, people with ADHD generally don't fall asleep easily.

What about Mineral Deficiencies?  There has been some implication in magnesium deficiency at the research level, but the practical significance is not well known at present.  A good multivitamin is definitely a good idea for anyone, but is recommended highly for those with ADHD.

Can You Get ADHD if You Aren't Born With It?  Yes you can.  The biggest cause is head trauma.  Any accident that impacts the head may cause some problems. A concussion may not be necessary. Bike, blading, boarding and car accidents are big culprits, but doing "headers" in soccer or head injuries in football may also contribute to attention problems. The NFL is conducting a number of studies that show that former players are at risk for many problems caused by head injuries. 

There may also be some infections or virus implicated in ADHD as well.  Many children with ADHD have had multiple ear infections.  The exact connection is unknown, but the evidence is strong that there may be some link.

Thus anything that causes brain trauma, whether a lack of oxygen surrounding the birth process or injury to the brain by accident, may create "acquired ADHD."