Poor Reading: A Deep Dive
The causes of ADD/ADHD
What is attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD)?
ADD/ADHD is a neurologically-based developmental disorder characterized by difficulty sustaining attention, excessive hyperactivity, and/or impulsive behavior beyond what is typical for a child’s age.
Exploring the causes of ADD/ADHD
ADHD does not have a single known cause; rather, it arises from a combination of genetic and neurological factors.
It is a highly heritable condition – many individuals with ADHD have a family history of it.
Brain imaging studies show that the ADHD brain develops differently: for example, the prefrontal cortex (responsible for focus and self-control) tends to mature more slowly and is slightly smaller in children with ADHD.
Other brain areas linked to memory, emotion, and behavior regulation have also been found to be smaller or less active. These differences can lead to the hallmark symptoms.
Environmental influences (prenatal exposure to alcohol or tobacco, premature birth, or early childhood stress) may also increase risk, although they do not cause ADHD alone. In sum, ADHD is best understood as a neurodevelopmental disorder with biological roots – the ADHD brain has structural and functional variations that make focusing and self-regulation more challenging.
Next up: When focus and writing collide
The connection between ADD / ADHD and dysgraphia
Difficulty focusing can spill over into writing skills. Learn how attention deficits can lead to poor handwriting, spelling, and written expression—and how they often overlap with dysgraphia.