Myths Regarding ADHD

The causes of ADHD aren't exactly known as of yet. Scientists are still researching to learn more about the disorder. There are many common myths regarding ADHD. Since my son was diagnosed with it two years ago, I have heard most if not all of them.

First, a child's diet, or sugar intake, do not cause ADHD. Many people have made unfounded claims that sugar makes a child more hyper. This has been researched and scientists have found no direct relation between sugar and ADHD. Studies have proven that a change in diet helped only 5% of ADHD children. Research has proven that sugar has absolutely no effect on either learning or behavior in children.

Television does not cause ADHD. I am ADHD and I have never been one to watch television. It puts me to sleep, it bores me. My son was showing symptoms of ADHD before he started watching television regularly. No studies have proven a direct relationship between children and ADHD.

Parenting and family life do not cause ADHD. ADHD is a medical condition and parenting skills, or lack thereof, cannot change the fact that the medical condition is present. However, parents with ADHD children are often thought of as bad parents due to the negative attitudes toward an ADHD child that may be put out by parents or put out by those seeing an ADHD child act out. ADHD children are often non-compliant which tends to result in people outside the home thinking the child is not parented well.

Scientists have found that ADHD is a medical condition that affects several areas of the brain that control executive functions. Executive functions include, but are not limited to, memory, organization, planning, behavior and thinking. Specific genes and toxins have been found to be related to ADHD, these do not include any of the myths listed above.

Randall Spitz has been writing articles about health for the past two years. He also likes to write about electronics, such as what the differences are between a USB car charger and USB car adapter.

Randall Spitz