Causes of Attention Deficits

ADD is a controversial diagnosis that many consider a symptom of a learning disorder rather than a disorder in its own right. Gemm Learning provides help for ADD where the cause is an underlying processing deficit. Understanding the cause of your child's attention difficulties requires careful observation of his/her symptoms.

The exact cause of learning disorders and other issues that cause ADD and ADHD is controversial at best, unknown at worst. Possible causes of ADD include:

Timing in the Brain. Where sensory input and brain functions are not exactly synched up, there is "noise" in the brain, chaos from a lack of synchronicity that makes concentration difficult. Scientists are focusing on the cerebellum, the region of the brain that integrates sensory perception.

Auditory Processing. Where a child is unable to process language at natural language speed, he or she is prone to tune out or be distractible.

Genetics. ADHD has a strong genetic basis in the majority of cases, experts believe. About 40% of learning disabilities can be traced to a close relative, and attention deficits have a similar correlation.

Nutrition and Food. Certain components of the diet, including food additives and sugar, can have clear effects on behavior. Some studies suggest that a lack of omega-3 fatty acids is linked to ADHD symptoms. These fats are important for brain development and function, and there is plenty of evidence suggesting that a deficiency may contribute to developmental disorders including ADHD. Fish oil supplements appear to alleviate ADHD symptoms, at least in some children, and may even boost their performance at school.

Frontal Lobe. ADHD researchers are currently investigating the frontal lobes of the brain - the areas controlling problem-solving, planning, understanding other people's behavior, and restraining our impulses.

Attention Difficulties FAQ

Treatments for ADD and ADHD

Treating ADD is a huge and expanding clinical area. There as many theories as there are scientists. We subscribe to the idea that in the vast majority of cases, ADD and ADHD are symptoms of underlying learning issues as opposed to a separate treatable condition.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD you have to choices: treat the symptoms or go after the cause of the problem.

Treating the symptoms:
Drugs, neurofeedback, meditation, focus exercise

Targeting the causes:
Nutritional changes, sensory exercise, brain fitness training.

While treating the symptoms to change daily behavior can be successful short term, most have side-effects or require effort from your child perhaps not commensurate with the eventual reward.

Targeting the cause of ADD is more speculative mainly because pin-pointing exact causes is challenging.  But any ADD treatment that is on target will bring about profound and enduring change.