Can a child develop ADHD? Does watching television, playing video games and being exposed to a plethora of electronic gadgets cause ADHD? Many people believe such actions can cause ADHD. This belief has grown out of ignorance and misunderstanding.

Identifying a cause requires you to understand the condition. Ask ten people on the street "What is ADHD?" and most would say, "Not being able to pay attention." Attention deficit is the most commonly identified symptom. Many people belief it is the only symptom. Logic would lead you to believe that overstimulation could cause inattention. Logic would be correct.

However, is this learned behavior ADHD? Many people including counselors and school administrators would say yes. However, they neither have nor have lived with anyone with true ADHD. Attention deficit is only one of many symptoms. Presentation of these symptoms varies by individual. For that reason, I will describe symptoms I experience.

Picture yourself sitting on your couch. The remote control is in your hand. Press the channel up button. Oops, the button is stuck. The TV begins to continuously cycle through every channel. Producing a mottled mess of pictures and sound. You now have a small taste of my mind. I constantly scan the area. Noticing many things but paying attention to very few.
You see a program that you thoroughly enjoy. Press the channel up button again. The channels stop scrolling. However, now the button will not work. You cannot change the channel. Everything else in the room, sounds, people, and your pet also disappear. Leaving you with only the current TV program. You have just been introduced you to "hyper focusing."

Hyper focusing is the other side to attention deficit. People with ADHD can pay attention. It just takes more to grab their attention. Once something has their attention, the scanning stops. They focus on nothing else, tuning out anything else around them.

I will not bore you with all my symptoms. I described hyper focusing only to put attention deficit in proper perspective. I do want to give you a feel for the wide range of symptoms. ADHD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Portions of my brain that control such things as impulse control, time management and organizational release fewer chemicals than the portions controlling aggression, creativity, and problem solving. This chemical imbalance manifests itself in many ways including no impulse control, a rapid and more intense temper.
Can a chemical imbalance be caused by watching TV? If you answered "no" then you would be correct. It is true that over stimulation can cause a person to prefer inattention. However, this does not ADHD make.

So what does cause ADHD? WebMD states, "The exact cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not known. But inherited genetic factors are likely responsible." True ADHD is recognized by two traits. First, symptoms do not stop at childhood. Our minds do not miraculously produce more chemicals when we turn 18. I personally was diagnosed at age 27. Second, once one person is diagnosed often other family members also will test positive. ADHD has been known to skip a generation. A child may be diagnosed along with an Aunt or Uncle.
I do not want you to think that over stimulation is good. Spending hours in front of the television can lead to many health problems. Obesity, learned inattention, impatience, and decreased imagination are just a few. However, over stimulation does not effectively account for the spectrum of ADHD behaviors. The behavior spectrum is better explained through genetic causes.

Learn more about this author, Bruce Ziebarth.
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