ADHD may be caused by stress in infancy, says parenting expert Steve Biddulph
© Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be brought on by experiencing stress in infancy, claims a leading parenting expert.
According to psychologist, parent educator and author of the best-selling Raising Boys, Steve Biddulph, new research suggests factors such as “stress at home and parents not meeting children’s needs early in life” could play a role in causing ADHD.
Previously it was thought that the behavioural disorder - typically characterised by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness - was caused by genetics and chemical imbalances in the brain.
Download the all-new Microsoft News app – available now on iOS and Android
But in the new, updated version of Raising Boys, Biddulph highlights new studies which suggest stress in infancy plays a role in the development of ADHD.
Around one in 20 boys in the UK are diagnosed with ADHD, most often when aged between six and 12 years old.
© Provided by Shutterstock
Factors such as “stress at home and parents not meeting children’s needs early in life” could play a role in causing ADHD.
Girls do suffer from ADHD too, but the symptoms are often harder to spot - it’s more common for girls with ADHD to be “daydreamers” rather than “trouble-makers,” according to Patricia Quinn, MD, co-author of Understanding Girls with ADHD.
Symptoms tend to improve as children age, but some people continue to experience problems into adult life.
Biddulph says that some cases of ADHD could actually be called DDD - “Dad Deficit Disorder.” The author has in the past been vocal about the importance he places on fathers being involved in their sons’ lives and teaching them self-control.
In the new version of Raising Boys, Biddulph highlights the work of Dr Gabor Maté, who believes that: “Rather than an inherited disease, Attention Deficit Disorder is a reversible impairment and a developmental delay, with origins in infancy.
Watch: Is ADHD Being Misdiagnosed? (Sky News)

-
'ADHD Poses A Real Challenge'Alison Thompson tells Sky News her son has learned to cope with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but it has been far from easy. She was speaking after a new study suggested many children diagnosed with the condition are simply immature and will grow out of it in time.
Sky News
-
Technology to help your kidsWith childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes, ADHD and stress on the rise in young children, we show you the best applications to help your kids stay fit and in good health. Plus, we test the Kolibree. It's the first smart sonic toothbrush that turns brushing teeth into a game, educates kids, and empowers parents.
France 24
-
How Guillain-Barre Affects The BodyScientists have discovered a link between the mosquito-borne disease and a rare disorder that can lead to nerve damage and paralysis.
Sky News
“It is rooted in multigenerational family stress and in disturbed social conditions in a stressed society.”
Both Maté and Biddulph believe that the part of the brain which allows us to feel calm develops in the second six months of life.
“Reducing stress on mothers and ensuring good attachment during the age of six months to one year may be crucial to preventing ADHD in vulnerable children,” writes Biddulph.
“ADHD is real… but it’s also often overdiagnosed. It’s important to look at all possible causes - what might be stressing the child in his home, school or other locations.”
Children with ADHD are often given medication such as Ritalin, which has amphetamine-like effects, but Biddulph says he does not think this is the right approach to take.
Instead, the author advocates teaching children to manage their emotions in an atmosphere of “nurturing kindness.”
Related: 13 Signs It's Time to Get Help for Anxiety (provided by Redbook)
More from The Independent
-
James DeGale vs Chris Eubank Jr LIVE: Stream, what time, what channel, undercard, how can I watch online, prediction, odds and more
The Independent
-
Dirty rags and drugs: Period poverty in Zimbabwe driving women to desperate measures
The Independent
-
Wales vs England player ratings: Josh Adams and Liam Williams deliver for hosts in thrilling Six Nations win
The Independent