As a child psychologist, I’ve been asked what causes inattention by hundreds of times, mostly by parents. To this day, my husband still believes that if we had made our accident-prone toddler wear a helmet, he may not have ADHD. I remind him that our son was probably accident-prone because he had ADHD.
The truth is ADHD is a complex disorder with many different suspected causes.
Here are Five Suspected Reasons for lagging attention span that repeatedly show up in research:
#1 Genetics
ADHD is considered a genetic disorder. That means that ADHD “runs in families.” In fact, studies have shown that genetics account for 70-80 percent of the risk of having ADHD.
Researchers are investigating different genes that may contribute to ADHD, especially those linked to the neurotransmitter dopamine. This is because people with ADHD tend to have deficient levels of dopamine. That’s why stimulant medications, like Ritalin, help people with ADHD. They increase dopamine levels within the brain, which in turn helps people with ADHD focus and sit still better.
ADHD has also been associated with deficits in functioning in several structural areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobe, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
This explains a lot about the problems people with ADHD face. For example, the frontal lobe helps us plan and organize, keep track of time, concentrate on things outside of our interests, and link cause and affect (a.k.a. learn from our mistakes).
The cerebellum is linked to motor skill development. This explains why kids with ADHD often have poor fine and visual-motor development, like messy handwriting.
Finally, the basal ganglia helps us regulate our emotions and behaviors. That’s one of the reasons kids with ADHD have so much difficulty coping with frustration.
#2 Pollution and Toxins
Given the rise in ADHD diagnosis over the last decade, researchers have become particularly interested in how our environments may be a contributing factor. That’s why scientists have begun to study everyday toxins, like Bisphenol A (BPA), an epoxy resin used to line food cans and containers.
Other toxins, like Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), used as fire retardants found in clothing and furniture, lead (e.g., in paint in old homes), and pesticides have also been linked to an increase in neurodevelopmental disorders, like ADHD, Autism, and learning disabilities.
#3 Prenatal Exposure to Substances
Children who are prenatally exposed to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes have a higher likelihood of developing ADHD. Most people know that consuming drugs and alcohol puts unborn babies at risk of all kinds of problems, such as learning and attention disorders. However, many parents are unaware that marijuana and cigarettes are both linked to higher rates of ADHD in youth. One mother actually told me that her doctor encouraged her to smoke marijuana during her pregnancy because her appetite was so low. She said she never would have taken the risk if she had know the possible consequences.
#4 Hypoxia in Pregnancy
Scientists have found that children who have experienced “ischemic-hypoxic events” resulting in oxygen deprivation during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and prolonged labor, are also at a greater risk for developing ADHD than their neurotypical peers.
My son’s heart rate dropped repeatedly during my labor before the doctors finally made the decision to conduct a cesarean. I was in labor for many, many hours. I would have requested a cesarean much earlier if I had known it could put my son at risk for ADHD.
#5 Early Head Injury
Researchers have also found a link between traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) and chronic attention problems in children. In fact, in one major study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics, children in TBI group were significantly more likely than children in control group to meet criteria for ADHD later in childhood.
How Does This Information Help Me Now?
After reading about the suspected causes of ADHD, you may be left feeling frustrated or even guilty.
Don’t let those negative feelings suck you in!!!! The point of this blog is to increase your awareness.
Information is empowering.
And guess what? In my next blog, I’ll share five constructive strategies on how to better-address ADHD and reduce future diagnoses.
Have you or someone you know been impacted by ADHD? Tell me about it in the comments below.
And before you go, if you found this informative, I’d really appreciate it if you’d share this post on social media.
Signing off for now,
Your ADHD Guru and Friend!
Thank you for sharing your personal experiences so others can relate. Information is the key to handling the unknown, I’ve learned a few things from this post!
You are welcome Samantha. I’m glad you found the blog helpful. I am enjoying sharing what I know – spreading my wings – outside of the office 🙂 You should come to one of my book readings if you live in the area. Check out my events page and come say hello!
Katherine
Thanks for sharing your experience. I appreciate taking the time to share a glimpse of your life.
You are so welcome Heather 🙂 I appreciate your comment.
Wow! This was very informative. My daughter now 13 years old has struggled with ADHD and learning delays. The question has always been in the back of my mind if it wasn’t due to issues during and at birth. It took 36 hours in induced labor because of toxemia for the doctor to finally call C-section. My opinion is because I didn’t have insurance. I totally understand about alcohol, and marijuana use and the harmful effects they have on unborn babies. I do not drink alcohol or use any drugs, I went to every Doctor’s appointment and never put anything in my body that could possibly hurt my baby and it makes me very upset that her WHOLE life was quite possibly changed because of the decisions of the very people we trust to preserve our lives.
Hello Terry,
Thank you for your response regarding my blog about our lagging attention spans. Your daughter is lucky to have you as a mom 🙂 Keep advocating for her and learning. Those are my biggest pieces of advice.
Best,
Katherine
Thank you so much mam for such wonderful information. My daughter is 8 years now. She was diagnosed with ADHD little bit 2 years before. Doctor suggested occupational therapy and we did same. That o. T. Said it will take atleast 1 year to see the difference. But we did only for 6 months lil bit changes we have seen in her. & now after 2 years we have seen her doing many complex things. Like swimming, exercises. Even her studies are good. But only some behaviour problems like lil lack of confidence. So was that doctor diagnosed it right that she had ADHD
My son’s dad smoked cigarettes and pot in the house while I was pregnant. He was a long-term crack head too, but didn’t smoke that in front of me. Because of him, I smoked pot for the first time in my life. I only smoked it a few times, probably 6 or 7, all while I was pregnant with my son. He was a textbook case of ADHD; meds definitely helped. My question: could those few times of smoking pot have caused his ADHD?
Before you answer: my middle child, a girl, had a different father but was also a textbook case of ADHD. She didn’t have the benefit of medication; ADHD was just coming to the forefront back then. There just was not a doctor close enough that knew anything about it.
So maybe his problem was genetic?
Now at age 77 I am finally understanding I have dealt with ADHD all my life. Fortunately mine is not serve but certainly has been a factor in much of the unfinished and unrealized goals set for myself over the course of my life. But, I had the good fortune to have been raised in a very structured and none pressured environment. Also I know now the diet my mother kept in the house and what we ate was probably a great aid to keeping me more level. However until now I never put it all together to realize my 52 year old daughter has spent her life struggling with server ADHD. Her life has been a constant mess. She has never married as her personality (as I know now is her condition ) always caused relationships to fail. She is volatile, disorganized, unpredictable, always late, restless, noise sensitive, hyperactive, and prone to aggressive meltdowns. We just thought she was unruly and a wild spirited person.
However with that said she is enormously goodhearted, truly funny, very smart, kind and loving, extremely talented and tremendously creative. In all the chaos she had managed to start and own a thriving business that is always in disarray but has successfully survived for 24 years. She has accomplished many other things through shear grit. She got herself through college and is totally self sufficient. Her life is a struggle but now with this information my hope is to help her find the answers to transform the chaos of her life to a manageable, less stressful and enjoyable life.