What's to blame for the rise in ADHD?

Genetics may play key role
While the implications of Christakis’s study are intriguing, not to mention frightening to all those decent parents who consider it a good day when their children sit contently watching Sesame Street and perhaps even a Baby Einstein chaser, they may also be a bit sensationalistic, says ADHD expert Dr. David Rabiner of Duke University.

“At this point there’s a compelling body of evidence that suggests that it’s genetics that plays the biggest role in ADHD,” he says. “Not bad parenting.”

While some research has been done to determine if there are links between ADHD and environmental factors, as well as nutrition, sleep disorders, exposure to toxins and certain prenatal conditions, Rabiner says the connections have consistently been found to be weak or nonexistent.

Instead, Rabiner attributes the rise in ADHD to more awareness of the condition and slightly relaxed criteria for diagnosis.

Related link ADHD/ADD are conditions that require a professional diagnosis and perhaps intervention. To find out more about this disorder, log on to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association’s Web site at ADD.org.

“I think it’s a gross misunderstanding of the recent study to jump to the conclusion that television watching leads to ADHD. The study doesn’t prove anything of the sort,” says Rabiner, who notes that the scale used in the study to determine if children who had watched TV later developed “attention problems” cannot be compared to the standards that a professional would use make a diagnosis.

Rabiner advises parents to limit the amount of television their children watch for a variety of reasons, but says they should make the choice independent of any worries that TV causes ADHD.

Christakis agrees — sort of. “Our study doesn’t prove a link between clinical ADHD and television viewing,” he says. “But I don’t even think that’s the most important point here. As parents, the most important thing is for us to do everything we can environmentally to encourage our children to focus as much as they are genetically endowed to.”

What's a parent to do?
So should parents throw the TV out the window? Healy and Christakis offer these more moderate suggestions:

• Parents should keep TV viewing to a minimum, if not eliminate it, for a child's first two years. This is also the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “There are videos that claim they’re good for children’s minds, but there is absolutely no evidence that any program is good for young children,” says Christakis.
• For children older than two, limit total screen time (TV, computers and video games) to an hour of carefully selected programming per day. Slow-paced shows are preferable to fast-paced ones.
• Reduce the background noise of TV as much as possible. Researchers believe background noise interferes with a child’s ability to concentrate on a problem and decide on a reasonable behavior or train of thought.
• Encourage your children to learn through their hands and bodies. “It’s better to touch and smell an apple rather than watch one on the television or computer screen,” says Healy.
• Talk to your child and listen instead of allowing any screen to talk to him or her. This communication is crucial in the development of language and interpersonal skills. “If you skip over early language or shortchange it because you’re watching television so much, you may never get it back,” warns Healy.

Victoria Clayton is a freelance writer based in California and co-author of the forthcoming book "Fearless Pregnancy," due out in November from Fair Winds Press.

MORE FROM GROWING UP HEALTHY

Growing Up Healthy Section Front

What to get the kids? Think outside the toy box Divorce doesn't have to destroy the kids Hipster parents want pop tots Debate over drug testing Should preschools be all work, no play? Kids at spas: How young is too young? ‘Momblocked’ mothers edged out by dads Is cosmetic surgery a good gift for grads? Are we raising a nation of little egomaniacs? Circumcision controversy Growing Up Healthy Section Front   Add Growing Up Healthy headlines to your news reader: