the main elements leading to ADHD, evidence suggests
that exposures to various agents, such as drugs, chemicals,
or illnesses, may increase the risk of ADHD. For example,
iron-deficiency anemia and thyroid disorders can cause problems with attention span. Exposure to such substances as lead and mercury may also increase the chances of a child having ADHD.
Can a significant head injury or a minor
concussion cause ADHD?
Behavior problems from significant traumatic brain injury
include irritability, fatigue, impulsiveness, decreased anger
control, disinhibition, decreased motivation, decreased
frustration tolerance, decreased initiative, aggressiveness,
decreased attention, and hypo- or hyperactivity. This
is due at least in part to the fact that a closed-head injury
is likely to damage the frontal lobes of the brain. A
physician must carefully and indefinitely monitor the
classroom attention of a child who has sustained a significant
head injury. In contrast, concussions, which are
associated with only a brief loss of consciousness, are considered very minor head injuries. Nonetheless, children may have trouble concentrating and focusing for several weeks after a concussion. The effects are transient, but can temporarily affect school performance. Paying attention to the problem will minimize it.
Are children born prematurely at
increased risk for ADHD?
The frequency of ADHD in children born prematurely is fairly high. One study compared children who had
been born prematurely with children who were from the same social class but had been born at full-term. When the children were evaluated at age 7 years, approximately 20% of those in the premature group had ADHD as compared to about 10% of the other group.Many of the premature children who had ADHD also had additional cognitive, neurological, or academic disabilities (e.g., dyslexia and developmental language disorders).
The rapid advances in medical technology have greatly increased the number of children who survive premature birth. However, as more premature babies survive, there is growing evidence that suggests that there are long term repercussions: many of these children—especially the very small ones—develop major neurological problems.
These children appear to be at special risk for ADHD because their frontostriatal circuitry is particularly vulnerable to injury owing to its immaturity at the time of birth. It is wise to carefully monitor children who are
born premature.
My child with iron-deficiency anemia is hyperactive
rather than tired. Is that common?
Anemia, although commonly thought to decrease energy, can be a cause of inattention and hyperactivity during early childhood. Pediatricians routinely monitor for anemia, which is most often caused by iron deficiency. Iron replacement corrects both the anemia and the inattention and hyperactivity fairly quickly.
Could the many ear infections my child
had as a toddler be the cause of his ADHD?
Some studies, although not all, have found that children with a history of frequent bilateral ear infections had lower language and speech scores, lower reading scores, and more behavior and attention problems during elementary school. Investigators have suggested that children who suffer from intermittent hearing impairments from ear infections do not get enough “practice” in paying attention.
This does not mean that your child will have problems in these areas if he has frequent ear infections, but parents and teachers do need to be vigilant about this problem. It is very unlikely that ADHD is caused by ear infections.
Read More: What other environmental factors may cause ADHD?
