Are you born with ADHD? The myths and causes

People with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are typically diagnosed in childhood. But many go undiagnosed and untreated for most of their lives. Knowing this, you may wonder, “are you born with ADHD? Or is it something you develop?”

In this article, we answer your questions about where ADHD comes from. Learn about the types of ADHD, whether you’re born with it or develop it, and break down the myths about what causes the disorder. 

If you think you have ADHD, a mental health provider can diagnose and treat you. Find a provider on Klarity Health today for a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan, if applicable.

Do you have ADHD at birth?

Science doesn’t have an exact answer as to what causes ADHD. Because of this, there’s really no definitive answer to whether you’re born with it or develop it. Most experts agree that the disorder is present at birth, but children may not show signs until they start school. This is partly because the core ADHD symptoms — inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity — are part of normal early childhood development. 

What science does know is that genetics play a significant role in ADHD. For example — if, in a set of identical twins, 1 has ADHD, their twin is 92% more likely to have the disorder as well. Non-identical (fraternal) twins share ADHD at a much lower rate (33%). 

Researchers also believe environment plays a role in the development of ADHD, but just how much of a role isn’t yet known.

Can you get ADHD as a teenager or adult?

It’s difficult to say whether you can develop ADHD as a teen or adult because medical researchers aren’t sure when ADHD starts. If you’re diagnosed with ADHD after childhood, you likely had the disorder your entire life but failed to notice the symptoms or be properly diagnosed. 

When undergoing psychological testing for ADHD as an adult or teen, your healthcare provider will interview you about your childhood to determine if you showed several symptoms before 12 years old. Also, you (as an adult) must currently have at least 5 symptoms of inattention and at least 5 symptoms of impulsivity or hyperactivity for a diagnosis of ADHD.

Myths about what causes ADHD

There are many myths about ADHD and where it comes from, how it starts, and what kind of behaviors make it better or worse. We break down a few of them here.

Myth #1: Poor diet can cause ADHD

For a long time, the medical community thought a poor diet loaded with sugar and processed foods was the culprit in worsening and even causing ADHD symptoms. 

And while a 2019 study found that children with ADHD may be more likely to have unhealthy diets, no direct correlation between diet and the root causes of ADHD symptoms has been found. 

Myth #2: ADHD is caused by excessive screen time

While some studies have shown that a reduction or increase in screen time can lead to significant changes in brain function, there’s yet to be any correlation between too much screen time and ADHD. 

Myth #3: Poor parenting causes ADHD

Some of the signs of ADHD, such as hyperactivity and impulsivity, can be perceived as the result of poor parenting. But, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Imaging shows that the ADHD brain works differently than a brain without ADHD. 

This means parenting strategies that work with other kids may not work for a child with ADHD. It doesn’t mean that poor parenting causes the disorder, though symptoms may be worsened if parents fail to adapt to and meet their ADHD child’s needs.

Types of ADHD

There are 3 recognized types of ADHD — hyperactive, inattentive, and combined.

Hyperactive ADHD

If you have hyperactive ADHD, you may frequently experience 5 or more of the following symptoms:

• Seems to always be in motion
• Has a hard time staying seated
• Fidgeting or squirming
• Talks a lot
• Has a hard time with quiet activities
• Forgetfulness
• Unable to focus long enough to complete tasks

Inattentive ADHD

If you have inattentive type ADHD, you likely experience 5 or more of the following symptoms:

• Short attention span 
• Difficulty listening to others 
• Difficulty concentrating
• Easily distracted
• Forgetfulness
• Poor organization skills
• Poor attention to detail

Combination ADHD

If you have combination ADHD, you likely experience a mixture of hyperactive and inattentive symptoms. People diagnosed with combined ADHD typically show at least 5 symptoms of hyperactive type and 5 symptoms of inattentive type. 

Potential causes of ADHD

Scientists and medical professionals have yet to find the exact cause for ADHD, or how and when the disorder appears. The following are suspected causes for ADHD — they don’t represent any direct causality or correlations.

Brain function

Some studies suggest that people with ADHD may have an imbalance in their brain chemistry and that their brain chemicals may not work properly. Further research is still needed to determine whether these are primary factors, contributing factors, or altogether invalid causes of ADHD.

Brain structure

If you have ADHD, your brain is structurally different from the brains of people without the disorder. Brain scan studies suggest that certain areas of the brain may be smaller if you have ADHD, while other areas may appear larger. It’s still unknown whether these differences are significant in having ADHD.

Brain injury

Approximately 300,000 children each year are treated for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Researchers who want to understand the longer-term effects of TBI on children are studying brain plasticity and how it affects adults with past brain trauma. A 2018 study that followed children between the ages of 3 and 7 with TBI discovered that 62% of the children developed ADHD, compared to 15% of their peers who didn’t have a TBI.

Additional studies have shown that children with severe TBI who later developed ADHD began showing symptoms within 18 months of the brain injury. Children with mild or moderate TBI began showing signs of ADHD within 6 years. 

Another thing to note — if you have ADHD after suffering a TBI, you likely have a similar brain structure and volume to those with ADHD attributed to genetics. The differences between the 2 occur in the connections between the brain hemispheres. This finding suggests that different events can lead to different types of ADHD, or that TBI-related ADHD may be a different disorder altogether.  

Genetics

Genetics seems to contribute to the likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis — 3 out of 4 children with ADHD share the disorder with someone in their family. It’s thought that genes inherited from parents are a significant factor in being diagnosed with ADHD. Past research has shown that parents and siblings of ADHD sufferers are more likely to have symptoms of the disorder.

Premature birth

A 2018 study revealed that early premature birth (children born before the gestational age of 34 weeks) may result in higher levels of ADHD symptoms in preschool and school-age children. The study found that genetic and environmental factors didn’t account for the level of ADHD symptoms in the children assessed, suggesting that early-term birth may play a factor in the intensity of ADHD symptoms. 

If you suspect you have ADHD, Klarity Health can help

If you think you have ADHD, you need a diagnosis from a mental health professional to get treatment. Find a provider on Klarity Health and make an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation in as little as 24 hours.*