When a child is diagnosed with ADHD, the biggest shock comes to the parents. Majority of them want to know how children get ADHD. The most common questions which pop up in the mind are - "Did we do something to create it?" or "Are we responsible?"
Well, there is no need for a parent to blame themselves, because though it is a behavioural problem parenting cannot be the reason why children get ADHD. Yes, bad parenting can aggravate the situation but not be the cause of it. Parents constantly blaming themselves will prove as a hindrance and hence it is important to explain how children get ADHD.
Most studies have linked ADHD with genetics. Parents should update themselves with their family history. If any relative has had ADHD, the chances of the child being affected with ADHD are much more. If a close family member has ADHD does the risk increase? Well yes. First degree relatives such as if any parent has ADHD makes the child 5 more times susceptible to ADHD. If a sibling has ADHD, then the chances just increase. Research is currently going on to identify the exact gene which is responsible for ADHD.
So do children get ADHD only from relatives? Well, not necessarily. Sometimes the brain forms an important source of ADHD. The brain has neurotransmitters which send messages from one area to another, telling the body how to act and react. These neurotransmitters are in the form of chemicals. The right amount of chemicals helps a child perform functions normally while excess or less can lead to problems. Dopamine and Norrephinephrine are the two chemicals which contribute to children getting ADHD. Excess of Norrephinephrine leads to agitation and irritation. While it may also make children fidgety. More of Dopamine leads to hyperactivity in children another symptom of ADHD. So it would be right to say that the functioning of the brain is responsible to a certain extent in getting ADHD.
Everyone knows would be mothers are not supposed to have cigarettes, alcohol or drugs as they are harmful for the offspring. Did you know it could also lead the offspring to having ADHD? It is advisable for pregnant women to stay of these toxic substances. Even excess of caffeine can be a cause in the child resulting to be hyperactive. Children can get ADHD as early as when in the mother's womb. Hence extra care should be taken so that the child does not become a receptor of ADHD.
These are the three main ways of children getting ADHD and once you know about them and feel any of them apply to the child it is important to get them checked by a doctor and treat it at the earliest stage.
Puneet writes a blog about ADHD and helps ADHD sufferers to find new treatments in naturopathy and alternative medicine. If you are looking for a well-researched herbal remedy for ADHD, you may read more.
