Locations:
Search IconSearch

What Causes ADHD? Is it Genetic, or Is Technology a Factor?

The short answer from a pediatric behavioral health specialist

Young girl lying on couch playing on a digital tablet

Q: Do we know what causes ADHD in children?

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

A: Professional thinking at present is that ADHD is a brain-based, genetic condition. Back in the early 2000s, there were two genes associated with neurotransmitter transmission that were associated with ADHD. Now many more have been associated with the condition.

Some say ADHD symptoms have been in the population since prehistory. Popular writers suggest that these are hunter genes — that when we lived in hunter-gatherer tribes, the hunters were the ones who noticed everything, which is what the ADHD brain tends toward in the modern world.

Some people today make the case that we’re living in a world dominated by screens, and that screens are making attention spans shorter. There’s no question that screens are certainly impacting how children react to directed-attention, effortful tasks — that is, the kind of attention that we use to self-regulate and accomplish difficult work. But the real issue is not that screens are changing attention, at least as far as we know.

There are no clear studies that confirm that screens cause ADHD. That’s a myth, at least for now.

Michael Manos, Ph.D., Clinical Director of the ADHD Center for Evaluation and Treatment

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Baby being fed from a plastic bottle
September 10, 2024/Children's Health
Baby Bottles 101: Here’s How Many (and What Kind) You Need

Ultimately, the choice depends on what works best for you and your baby, but it’s also important to be aware of the pros and cons of both

Child pulling back the eyelids of a sleeping parent in bed
September 9, 2024/Children's Health
What To Do if Your Child Is Waking Too Early

Set later bedtimes, create nighttime routines and limit long napping to help your early bird establish healthy sleep habits

Teen walking into bathroom at home
September 4, 2024/Children's Health
Kids and Teens Deal With IBS, Too

Pediatric IBS treatment involves making dietary adjustments, getting mental health support and — in some cases — taking prescription medication

Oversized germs and a giant eye with red in the sclera
August 26, 2024/Eye Care
COVID-19 and Pink Eye Are Possibly Connected

Studies have shown an increase in ophthalmic complications as a symptom of COVID-19

Happy elementary school kids smiling, eating lunches at table
August 14, 2024/Children's Health
Building a Healthy Lunch for Students

A well-balanced lunch should include a protein, whole grain, fruit and vegetables, and a healthy snack

Young toddler having an eye examine
August 9, 2024/Eye Care
Eye Spy: Why You Should Test Your Preschooler’s Vision Early

Genetic eye diseases and other conditions that impact your vision can develop in infancy and improve with early treatment

Toddler drinking from a pink cup
July 31, 2024/Children's Health
When and How To Wean Your Baby Off Bottles and Sippy Cups

Ideally, you want your toddler to be drinking from a ‘big kid cup’ by age 2

Child on baseball mound pitching
July 29, 2024/Children's Health
Preventing Overuse Injuries in Young Athletes

Build breaks into training routines to prevent the wear and tear behind repetitive stress

Trending Topics

Female and friend jogging outside
How To Increase Your Metabolism for Weight Loss

Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress

stovetop with stainless steel cookware and glassware
5 Ways Forever Chemicals (PFAS) May Affect Your Health

PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body

jar of rice water and brush, with rice scattered around table
Could Rice Water Be the Secret To Healthier Hair?

While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims

Ad