5.5 million children between the ages of 4-17 have a current diagnosis of ADHD.

What causes ADHD?

Science has never found one factor that causes children to develop ADHD. Instead, researchers believe it to be a combination of factors such as environment and the child’s genetics that cause him or her to be more likely to be diagnoised with this disorder.

So, which children are more likely to develop Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Family

Children with close family members are more likely to have an ADHD genetic predisposition. Children with a parent or sibling with ADHD have a much higher risk of developing the disorder as well. In a study by Australian researchers McDougall, Hay and Bennet it was found that identical twins are more likely to have ADHD. Further more a child whose twin has ADHD has a 3 in 4 chance of developing it too.

Premature Birth

Early delivery during pregnancy has been shown to be connected with developing ADHD. Dr. Dina O’Brien states in her article, The Relationship between Prematurity and ADHD, that “many researchers speculate that premature birth results in disruption to the maturational processes of the brain. Since the risk of ADHD increases the more premature the baby is, and decreases gradually in closer-to-term”.

Gender

ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in males. Statistics show that males are 3 times more likely to develop ADHD than females.

Pregnancy

Children with mothers who smoked or drank alcohol during their pregnancy increase the risk of their child having ADHD.

ADHD is a treatable disorder that can be controlled with behavioral therapy and medication. Read this Care Club article about 5 ways to help your child with ADHD succeed.