Studies have shown that 5-10% of school-age children develop ADHD. As a parent, you probably want to know why some children get ADHD and others not. If there was a certain “type” of child who developed ADHD, it would be much easier to prevent the occurrence of confusion. But, unfortunately, they are not. So is there a way to determine if your child is at risk for contracting ADHD? Are risk factors known for the development of the disorder?
Medical journals show that there is a strong link between genetics and ADHD. While scientists have not yet identified a specific gene that carries ADHD, studies show that 75–91% of people with ADHD will transmit the disorder to the next two generations. Therefore, if your parents or your aunts and uncles showed symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, there is a high probability that the disorder can be transmitted to your children. But just because there is a connection between genes and ADHD does not mean that genetics is the only reason. Genetics just makes someone susceptible to frustration. ADHD itself begins to act only when certain environmental factors interact with genetic predisposition.
So what are these environmental triggers? The first of these triggers can affect a child during pregnancy and childbirth. A pregnant woman exposed to cigarette smoke, alcohol, mercury leakage from amalgam sawdust or other toxic substances is likely to have a child predisposed to ADHD and other learning disabilities. A child born through cesarean section instead of vaginal birth is also at a higher risk of developing ADHD because the C-section does not activate the child’s primitive neurological reflexes, as does normal birth. Use of antibiotics, bottle feeding and unwanted food can also trigger ADHD because they contribute to the development of bad intestinal bacteria that produce toxins and cause stress to the nervous system.
Specific lifestyle and habits also make the child more susceptible to ADHD. Children who spend a lot of time indoors, watching TV or playing video games are at greater risk of developing ADHD. TV does not cause ADHD per se, but it does not allow children to exercise and use their muscles - and healthy muscles are necessary for a healthy neurological system. An unhealthy diet made from junk food and sweets can also cause ADHD. Researchers have shown that children with ADHD suffer from deficiencies in important nutrients, such as zinc, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, because they do not get enough green vegetables and deep-water fish in their diet.
In other words, there are many environmental factors that can trigger ADHD in your child, which is why ADHD medications are the right solution for ADHD. Meditations work only in the treatment of symptoms. But if environmental triggers are ignored, the condition will continue to persist. The best treatment for ADHD is not a medicine that changes the mind with many side effects, but a holistic program consisting of lifestyle changes and creating a healthy environment that will allow your child to thrive and overcome the disorder.
