Can ADHD run in the family? If you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, you might wonder whether you could pass it on to your children. Right now, the research says you can, but nothing is clear-cut when it comes to the brain.
Crescent City Psychiatric explains more about ADHD transmission in families below. For direct support, please contact the team’s experienced psychiatrist in Metairie, Louisiana.
More About How Genetics Affect ADHD in Your Family
If you have ADHD and are considering starting a family, you may feel alarmed to learn about the idea of ADHD hereditary factors. Don’t worry; the support and treatment your children may need are available, and learning about what to expect makes things much easier.
As a neurodevelopmental disorder, science clearly views ADHD’s inherited traits across generations. What are these ADHD inheritance traits? Here are a few basic tips for supporting your children with a genetic predisposition to ADHD.
Can ADHD Run In the Family?
Yes, ADHD can run in the family—the likelihood ranges from 75% to 91%. The average person with ADHD has variants in gene structures, possibly causing their disorder. These may pass to children, affecting their functions, emotions, and behaviors in similar ways to the parent.
However, a family history of ADHD will not guarantee a child with the disorder. Far from it, every person’s genetic material includes a combination of genes from both their parents, which changes the ratios involved. If both parents have a high number of ADHD-related gene traits, their child could be at an increased risk, but that’s fairly rare.
How Do ADHD Diagnoses and Treatments Work?
So, can ADHD run in the family? We know it can, but it’s not only your familial ADHD patterns that place your children at risk. It’s helpful to review how medical professionals diagnose ADHD to understand some of the nuances involved.
For example, diagnosing ADHD takes several steps, as the disorder presents a range of symptoms that mirror other concerns. Your child’s medical provider will begin by ruling out other issues, like vision problems or hearing loss. Then, they’ll move to the ADHD checklist that asks about symptoms, family history, and more.
If there’s a definitive diagnosis, ADHD treatments typically include some behavioral therapy, medication, or both. A strong treatment plan includes the entire family so that everyone knows how and when to help the person with ADHD progress.
What Do You and Your Children Need With a Family History of ADHD?
Do you have a family history of ADHD? Supporting your child and setting your family up for success includes the following tips:
- Encourage exercise: Since exercise increases dopamine, it improves brain function and ADHD symptoms. By encouraging exercise from a young age, you can help your child build a healthy relationship with different sports or activities and cope with life better.
- Create routines: Healthy routines reduce issues with task organization, patience, and stress, which are typical of ADHD. Schedules mean everyone gets enough sleep, and you can help your child start off on the right foot each day.
- Choose whole-family therapy: Whole-family therapy is a highly effective option, especially if multiple members struggle with ADHD. Everyone can learn effective ways to work through pain points together.
- Work as a team: In families with ADHD children or adults, one person often holds the load of support, scheduling, and stress. Burnout happens easily without support and load-sharing. Harnessing strengths and weaknesses across family members balances things.
- Seek support: ADHD can feel quite isolating, whether you’re struggling with it yourself or raising children with it. Local or online support groups provide community and strategies for getting through various hardships.
Seek Information and Treatment for Your ADHD and Safeguard Your Quality of Life
So, can ADHD run in the family? Yes, ADHD has a relatively high likelihood of passing to children. In addition, ADHD and depression often go hand-in-hand.
Do you or your children have ADHD? Why not get some support or guidance? Schedule an appointment with Crescent City Psychiatric today at (985) 249-1322.
