I.

Introduction
Topic Question: How does a child get ADHD?
Thesis Statement: Research shows that one of the reasons a child may have ADHD is due to
either heredity, pregnancy problems or head injuries.
Hook: Did you know that the amount of children with ADHD has increased and that your future
child could be one of them.
Sources: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

II. Body
Paragraph 1: How does heredity cause ADHD?
Answer: ADHD can be passed down through heredity. This is because ADHD is a physiological
disorder that can be passed through genetics.
If one parent has ADHD, the chances of their child is around 20-54%.
Supporting Detail:
1. On a family genetic study, people with brown eyes tend to have families or children with
brown eyes. They have found that ADHD works the same that if you have ADHD your family
and children tend to have ADHD too.

2. Based on a study on identical twins it showed that there is a 3 in 4 chance for both twins to
have ADHD. This shows that ADHD is really a genetic condition because twins share same or
almost similar genetics.

Supporting Evidence:
Holland, K. (2013, July 12). Is ADHD
Genetichttp://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/genetic#Overview1
First direct evidence that ADHD is a genetic disorder: Children with ADHD more likely to have
missing or duplicated segments of DNA. (2010, September 30).
Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100929191312.htm
(n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.myadhd.com/causesofadhd.html

Paragraph 2: What pregnancy problems can cause ADHD?

Answer: Pregnancy problems that cause ADHD are
smoking tobacco products, drinking of alcohol,
In supporting detail 1.
low birth weight and premature birth.
In supporting detail 2.
Premature birth means before the 37 week of pregnancy.
A baby is considered low birth weight if when born is lighter than 2500 grams.
Supporting Detail:
1.Research shows that smoking tobacco or nicotine and drinking alcohol is toxic to a baby's
brain tissue. The damage that happens could cause ADHD.
Both smoking tobacco products and drinking alcohol while being pregnancy increase the risk of
your child having ADHD by 2.5 times.
Smoking in dangerous for a pregnant woman at all times. There is no specific time where it is
more effective.
Alcohol is most effective during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

2. Researches have also found a connection between premature birth and low birth weight. This
is said to be due to the disruption this may cause to the maturational process of the brain of a
baby.
Premature birth means before the 37 week of pregnancy.
A baby is considered low birth weight if when born is lighter than 2500 grams.

Supporting Evidence:
(n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.myadhd.com/causesofadhd.html
O'Brein, D. (n.d.). The Relationship Between Prematurity and ADHD.
Retrieved from
http://handtohold.org/resources/helpful-articles/the-relationship-between-prematurity-and-adhd/
(n.d.). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Causes of ADHD
Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-causes
Lindstrom, Karolina, Frank Lindbland, and Anders Hjern. Preterm Birth and
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Schoolchildren.
Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/5/858
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/add-causes.shtml
http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/pregnancy/Pages/smoking-alcohol-and-drugs-
can-harm-your-baby.aspx

Paragraph 3: What head injuries may cause ADHD?

Only in very rare cases on head injuries may cause ADHD.
Supporting Detail:
1. Research shows if a school age child has a traumatic head injury or brain injury it may have a
chance of giving a child ADHD. Usually in a traumatic head injury or brain injury damage done
to the frontal lobe of the brain can cause ADHD.

Supporting Evidence:
Collingwood, J. (n.d.). ADHD and Head Injury Link Examined.
Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/adhd-and-head-injury-link-examined/
http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/brain-injury/frontal-lobe.html

III. Conclusion
Restate Thesis Statement: As you can see this is how you can get ADHD; Through heredity,
pregnancy problems or head injuries.