If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, you probably have one
question in the back of your mind---why does my child have this disorder? There is
no clear answer to this question because the exact cause of ADHD is unknown. It seems
ADHD is not caused by just one thing. Rather, multiple things influence if a child has
ADHD. Below is a brief summary of what researchers currently think about causes of ADHD.
Genetics/heredity influence if a child has ADHD. Children with ADHD often have 1,
or more, relative with ADHD. At least one-third of all fathers who had ADHD in their youth have a
child with ADHD. When one twin has ADHD, the other is likely to have it too. Genes involved in
ADHD likely affect chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters.
"Bad" parenting does not cause ADHD. Many lay people claim children have ADHD
because of "bad" parenting. Research does not support this. While parents do not cause ADHD,
parents can use strategies (for example, following a daily routine) that help child with ADHD do
better. Parents can also use strategies to prevent children with ADHD from developing other
problems (for example, problems with defiance).
Things in a child's environment can increase risk for developing ADHD. For instance,
exposure to lead or pesticides early in life increase a child's chance of having ADHD. Exposure to
cigarette smoke in utero also increases a child's risk of having ADHD. Early head injuries also
increase the risk of developing ADHD. Not all children with ADHD are exposed to these things in the environment,
however. Also, not all children exposed to these things will develop ADHD.
