Diagnostic criteria generally associated with ADHD
3 categories: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity
Inattention: getting distracted easily, forgetting things, not able to sit still, not able to focus for a long time (unless it’s an activity that the individual enjoys), not seeming to listen when spoken to, daydreaming & moving slowly, having trouble processing information as quickly as others, bored easily, struggling to follow instructions
Hyperactivity: talking nonstop, fidgeting and squirming, running around, touching & playing with objects, can’t do quiet tasks, trouble sitting
Impulsivity: impatient, trouble waiting their turn, blurting out inappropriate comments, acting without thinking about consequences, showing emotions without regard for situation, interrupting other people
scientifically supported theories about the cause of ADHD
Genetics & Environment
Genetics: ADHD often runs in families, could potentially be polygenic in inheritance (ie. many genes involved in development)
- children with ADHD, who carry a certain version of a gene, have thinner cortical tissue in area associatd with attention. This got better as child got older and brain developed, and ADHD symptoms improved.
- Duplications and deletions of DNA, ie. copy number variations: some copy number variations occur more frequently in people with ADHD
Environment: ADHD associated with prenatal alcohol use and cigarette smoking. Preschool exposure to lead is also associated with ADHD development.
discredited theories about cause of ADHD
- Brain injuries
- Sugar
- Food additives
