Mental Illness - Adhd

Mental Illness - ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also commonly known as ADHD, is a mental illness that affects more males than females and can begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. “ADHD affects between 5 percent and 15 percent of school aged children in the United States.” (Livestrong, 2011) In order to ensure people are diagnosed correctly for ADHD, a series of tests may be performed for a complete ruling and exact diagnosis.

As researchers have studied more on ADHD, there have been many myths made and then later revealed into truths. One of those myths includes the idea that “all children with ADHD are inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive.” (Scholastic Parent & Child, 2009) The truth happens to be that there is usually only one prevailing symptom within those symptoms mentioned. A second myth is that sometimes a person does not show signs of ADHD until he or she is an adult. Truthfully, the adult most likely experienced some parts of problems with ADHD during childhood but may not have gotten a proper diagnosis until reaching adulthood. Third, ADHD was thought to be a genetic disorder, when in fact, it is still being studied and thought to be linked to other factors such as nutritional habits, brain injuries, or environmental conditions.

With that being said, that leads us into some of the exact causes for ADHD. The main cause of ADHD is usually found to be through an inherited gene, but other factors have also been found to possibly aid in the cause of ADHD as well. Some of those causes may be from pregnancy issues, birth, illnesses, and possible toxins within the environment. In fact, about 20 percent of ADHD cases have been linked to non-genetic factors. A new study has linked mobile phone usage of mothers while pregnant, may end up having babies that are affected with ADHD as children. Malnutrition also plays a big role in ADHD found in children. Their diet mostly consists of additives that can cause the...