More than 11 million U.S. residents suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition formerly called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Some use the terms interchangeably. This disorder strikes both males and females and is not limited to children. For the majority, it lasts a lifetime.
Overview
ADHD is considered a neuro-behavioral condition. It has no cure. Around two out of every three youngsters with ADHD continue to experience symptoms that require treatment as adults. ADHD is a condition with a lifelong and persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that causes interference with a person’s ability to function or develop over time and in various settings.
Adults who suffer from this condition or parents of children with ADD in Las Vegas often wonder about its causes. Many alleged causes have been attributed to ADD/ADHD. The belief that consuming too much sugar or watching a great deal of television results in the disorder is a misconception.
Causes
Although there has been significant interest in attention deficit in the last two decades, experts still do not know exactly what causes ADHD. However, most agree that the following could play a role:
Genetics causes as many as half of ADHD parents to have a child with the same condition. If an older brother of sister has the condition, a child has nearly a one-third chance of having it.
Brain chemical differences are apparent in ADHD patients. Research reveals that they experience abnormalities in how two neurotransmitters work to help the communications process between neurons and various functions of the brain.
Brain activity and structural differences exist in individuals with ADD/ADHD. One research study reported that the brain scans of ADHD adults showed reduced activity levels throughout the organ, particularly in areas linked to motor activity and attention capacity.
Brain communication differences appear to involve poor connectivity between various portions of the ADHD brain and along various communication routes. When dysfunction occurs, individuals experience problems with performance and activity engagement.
Pregnancy issues can result in an elevated risk for having ADD/ADHD. Children whose mothers experienced difficult pregnancies are one example. Others facing a higher-than-average risk are children with head injuries affecting the brain’s frontal lobe, who were born prematurely, or who had a low birth weight. Toxins could be to blame, some researchers believe. They might interfere with brain development, resulting in difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.