we are expecting our first child in the summer and when my fiance was young, not sure what age, he was diagnosed with ADHD and as on medication until he was 18 years old .. from what iv head from everyone in his family he was the little maniac child lol .. i was just thinking about this because i just read a question someone posted about ADHD... is it something genetic.. i mean since he had it is it something we should look out for in our daughter when she gets a little older .. i kno im jumping ahead here considering she hasnt been born yet but it was just something that crossed my mind so i figured id ask
My stepson has it- both his mom and my husband have it. Of my three kids, two definitely do NOT have it and my youngest might (he is only 3.5, but I see some of the same characteristics in him that we saw in my stepson at that age). I don't have it- in fact, if there is a polar opposite of ADHD, that would be me.
Experts do know that ADHD has a strong genetic component. They think, aren't sure, that the genes that control the levels of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters seem to be different in those with ADHD. ADHD tends to run in families, studies have shown certain genetic characteristics that occur with high frequency in families where one or more family member has ADHD, if one or both parents have ADHD, their children are more likely to develop the condition, and at least one-third of all fathers who had ADHD in their youth as your fiance did, do have children with ADHD.
In some cases, though, there is no genetic link to ADHD, there are other factors to consider, if the mother smoked or drank during pregnancy, had a difficult pregnancy, the child sustains a head injury...there are so many factors but they do not ensure a child will develop ADHD by any means.
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-causes
And IF your daughter does get diagnosed with it, it's not the end of the world by any means, just a challenge to be met, relax : )
Scientists do not know what causes ADHD. From what I've read it is not considered to be genetic, tho that is an unproven possibility.
Both of my grandchildren have been diagnosed with ADHD and they are the first in their families to have it. Most likely it is not genetic with them.
ADHD is one of those conditions that defy strict scientific thinking. It's difficult to even diagnose let alone know how to manage it. It's a matter of trial and error on both fronts.
I wouldn't be concerned for your baby at this point. I would be careful to not "create" it by treating your baby as if he had it.
Yes it is genetic but it isn't the end of the world. I have it, my ex has it, all four of my kids are on the spectrum.
I have done some pretty amazing things, all my kids are genius level, yeah we are a bit strange but the life of the party. Heck my older daughter will be graduating from Xavier in two months with a 3.8. She hasn't taken meds since fifth grade. :)
I hate to see you worrying or looking for issues where there may not be any and if there is, you just deal with it.
If it were all genetics and you automatically have what your parents have (and I work for a testing laboratory specializing in women's health) my adopted daughter would be bipolar, have depression, allergies, birth defects from the mother drinking alcohol and doing drugs, she would be currently wearing handcuffs and a rap sheet measured by the pound, not the page. So far, so good and she is in her first year of college and is an amazing and healthy person.
It does have genetic tendencies...google it--you'll get lots of articles.
It can be passed genetically, but it won't definitely be passed genetically. Like other genes -some get it and some don't. I wouldn't worry or even really think about it until your child is older -4, 5, etc. and REALLY having some issues that point to it -then you can have them assessed.
But even if the baby DOES eventually get diagnosed with ADHD, it's not a death sentence. Obviously your fiance is leading a perfectly normal life, so if it happens, you'll rise above and cope and your child will have a normal life anyway.
So why worry?
:)
Yep. It's genetic. Nope. It's not dominant. It skips, hops, slides, and bounces around families.
If you're interested in learning about ADHD &/or Giftedness (ADHD kids are nearly always Gifted -which can be a separate brain disorder-, because it's just a different way that certain brain process and store information)...
check out:
www.additudemag.com
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/
Don'tcha just loooooove the way pregnancy makes us focus on things that may or may not happen, with an intensity that is almost -but not quite- comedic?
Yes, it is strongly genetically linked. Estimates vary, but the general consensus is that a child with ADHD in the family is four times more likely to have it too.
That said, my husband and both my girls have it and we have a very lively, wonderful, creative, funny and sometimes very tiring family. I wouldn't have them any other way.
Remember that just because something is genetically related, it doesn't mean that your child has a 100% chance of having ADHD. Your child gets genes from both of you. If you're that worried, be sure to start your child in kung fu classes as early as possible. Gymnastics is also a good choice. Why? Because of the discipline and concentrations those 2 activities take.
