ADHD Disorder

Does ADHD Disorder mean that there is something wrong with the brain? Firstly, ADHD disorder is a biological, brain-based problem characterised by some structural or chemically-based neuro-transmitter problem in the nervous system. Having said that, it is however incorrect to conclude that having ADHD meant there is something “wrong” with your child’s brain (note: “wrong” here is taken to mean damage).

Damage and dysfunction are two different things. To use a computer as an analogy, damage means there is something wrong with the “hardware” or in this case the basic brain structure. From what we know so far, that is not the case with ADHD disorder.

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to scan the brain, recent studies found that the brain's memory hub, the hippocampus, tended to be enlarged in ADHD, particularly in children with fewer symptoms. The researchers also found that parts of an emotion-processing hub, the amygdala, were smaller in children with the disorder and it had a positive correlation with severity of ADHD symptoms.

In addition, brain scans also revealed that, on average, children with ADHD have up to 4%  smaller brain volumes than children who don’t have it. There also appears to be less activity in the areas of the brain that control activity and attention.

Some researchers believe that changes in activity levels in certain parts of the brain may contribute to ADHD. These areas are (1) Pre-frontal cortex (involved in behavior regulation or "executive function" such as time management, judgment, impulse control, organization, planning, and critical thought, (2) the Limbic system (involved in controlling emotion, irritability, moods, negativity, and the ability to comprehend emotions, and (3) the Reticular Activating System (which affects arousal, attention, and impulse control).

Yes, although research thus far have shown that some brain structures of individuals with ADHD disorder tend to be slightly different to that of a normal person, there is no indication that damage per se is present. In addition to that, despite the use of sophisticated scanning technologies, brain scanning using MRI remain very much an experimental research tool at best and cannot be used to diagnose or predict whether a person has ADHD.

With ADHD disorder, the key problem seems to be with the “software” – meaning certain connections or wiring in the brain. The problem with the connections most likely can be traced to atypical amounts of specific neurotransmitters, either individually or in relation to one another. In other words, ADHD can be looked upon as an organ dysfunction. Studies conducted thus far suggest that chemical pathways to the “attention system” of the brain are dysfunctional.

Recent research suggests that ADHD disorder may be inherited, although ADHD-like behaviour can also be acquired through brain injury, exposure to toxins, or high fever...