ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes sufferers to have difficulties in regulating their activity level (hyperactivity), in inhibiting or curbing their thoughts and/or behaviors (impulsivity), and in maintaining attention in tasks that require cognitive effort (inattention).
It is therefore a maladaptive pattern, disproportionate and inappropriate to the child’s age, with symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and/or inattention, which are generally present before the age of 12 years and in more than one environment (home, school, extracurricular activities, etc.).
In this regard, it is important to differentiate between its three subtypes:
- Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive.
- Predominantly inattentive
- Combined presentation (they have hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention).
What is the cause of ADHD?
While in medicine there are many diseases that, like the flu, respond to a single cause, others may be caused by several factors that coincide in time, as in the case of ADHD. Depending on the intensity or type of the cause, the disorder manifests itself in one way or another. Sometimes, only one very strong cause is necessary, but in other cases the superposition of several weaker causes is necessary for the patient to develop the disease.
The main causes for a child to suffer from ADHD are:
- Genetics: if the parents have it, the risk of it manifesting in their child is eight times higher.
- Alcohol consumption during pregnancy triples the chances of developing ADHD.
- Tobacco consumption during pregnancy also increases the chances threefold.
- Prematurity
- Low birth weight
Parental disagreements or divorce, jealousy over the birth of a sibling, etc., can make ADHD worse, but have no cause and effect relationship with ADHD.
Why does ADHD occur?
There are several studies, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, which have shown that in ADHD there is a deficient functioning of certain parts of the brain. These areas are the frontal lobes and their connections with the ganglia of the base and the cerebellum.
For these areas of the brain to function properly, dopamine and norepinephrine are needed, which allow neurons to communicate with each other. In children with ADHD there is a reduction in the levels of these in these brain areas. Thus, when a good transmission of information between neurons is needed for concentration and control, the function is not performed properly.
Trauma, environment or family dynamics have nothing to do with it. Nor should we look for culprits, since if diagnosed and treated correctly, it is possible to lead a normal and happy life.
What areas of the brain are affected in ADHD?
The areas of the brain affected by ADHD are:
- The frontal lobes: they are in charge of self-control, along with their closest connections to the ganglia of the base.
- The cerebellum
- The cingulum: it is in charge of regulating attention.
What are the main symptoms of ADHD?
Mainly, ADHD is conceived as a mixture of these 3 components:
- Hyperactive behaviors
- Impulsive behaviors
- Attentional difficulties, as well as organization and planning difficulties.
Although, however, many other symptoms can be extracted from these, such as:
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty in social skills
- Learning problems
- Clumsiness in fine and/or gross motor skills
- Low motivation
- Academic performance below potential
- Defiant behavior
- Inflexibility and insatiability
- Poor constancy, consistency in completing tasks and highly erratic or variable performance
- Sleep problems
- Nervousness