Risk Increasing Factors and Possible Prevention Of ADHD

Researchers are focusing on the hereditary cause of the ADHD condition and the identification of the genes that cause it. Yet, the exact cause of ADHD is unknown.

Studies have found possible links between ADHD and brain structure using a number of imaging tests to observe brain activity. Also, another connection was established between ADHD and the function of dopamine and norepinephrine (chemicals in the brain that help regulate attention and activity). A third link proved by researchers is represented by the different functioning of some brain areas that affect attention and impulse control.

Another result of studies is that the possibility of a child to suffer from ADHD is connected to mother's consumption of alcohol, tobacco or drugs during pregnancy.

Studies concerning the association of sugar and hyperactivity have proved that foods with sugar and additives are not a possible cause for ADHD. Statistics from NIH say that only 5% of the children were helped by dietary therapy from which most of them were very young or had food allergies.

Children with ADHD are not lazy or dumb. That is a misconception.

Risk increasing factors.

  • The genetic inheritance is so far the most obvious of the causes for ADHD.
  • Child raising or certain parenting techniques may influence the symptoms for ADHD, but they certainly don't cause it.
  • Anxiety is a condition that can easily be triggered by the feeling of guilt created in the home environment to an ADHD child that believes he or she caused all the family stress or problems with his behavior or symptoms.

How to prevent it.

Due to the fact that it's certain causes were not discovered yet, but are only assumed, it is impossible to say for sure how this condition can be prevented. Of course, by eliminating the probable causes like smoking and use of drugs during pregnancy may help preventing but it is never for sure.

The best thing you can do is helping your child lessen his problems by:

  • - Good medical care and healthy habits during pregnancy.
  • - Developing good and healthy parental skills and controlling the child's behavior.
  • - Developing a good strategy of learning and paying attention for your child in the preschool stage using board games or puzzles instead of the TV, or reading to your child and teaching him things since he is very young.

Child raising techniques play a very important role in the development of your child and of his skills even since preschool years.