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Environmental factors that may influence attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Although there is no evidence that environmental factors cause ADHD, they may influence how the disorder is expressed. For example, although ADHD is not caused by "bad parenting," certain parenting techniques can improve or make worse some symptoms of the disorder. Environmental factors that may influence how ADHD is expressed include:1

  • Exposure to lead, cigarette smoke, and exposure of a fetus to alcohol during pregnancy.
  • Parenting skills.

Citations

  1. Mercugliano M (1999). What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Pediatric Clinics of North America, 46(5): 831–843.

Author Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Pat Truman
Associate Editor Terrina Vail
Primary Medical Reviewer Michael J. Sexton, MD
- Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Mina Dulcan, MD
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Last Updated May 31, 2006

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 31, 2006
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