TV doesn't cause ADHD

[Qdrop]

TV not to blame for some attention disorders
Two-year study conflicts earlier research linking viewing habits with ADHD


CHICAGO - In contrast to an earlier finding, it does not appear children who watch a lot of television wind up with behavior problems in school, researchers reported Monday.

If there is an association, it may be that the exhausted parents of already overly active children are more likely to let them watch TV to give themselves a break, and not that TV itself leads to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, the report from Texas Tech University in Lubbock said.

The findings were based on an evaluation of data from a survey of parents and teachers of 5,000 U.S. children over a two-year period, to determine if TV viewing habits during the kindergarten year resulted in ADHD in first grade.

“The results of the present study do not indicate the presence of an important relationship between television exposure and subsequent attention problems,” said the study published in the March issue of “Pediatrics,” the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

That finding conflicts with the conclusion of a 2004 study in the same journal, possibly because of differences in methodology, the authors said.

Exhausted parents, child temperament
The earlier study, which used a different database, found each hour of TV watched during ages 1 to 3 increased the risk of attention problems by 10 percent at age 7.

But the new study pointed out that “... ADHD, although identified by other names, has been recognized as a disorder of childhood well before children had television to watch.”

Earlier studies have found no support for the idea that parenting causes the disorder, although environmental factors around the time of birth have been linked in some studies, as has exposure to environmental toxins, it added.

“Researchers have learned that much of child development is reciprocal, with characteristics of a child influencing the way that child is parented in addition to parenting influencing characteristics of a child,” the study said.

“It may be that exhausted parents of very active and inattentive children resort to using the television as a 'babysitter' more commonly than do parents of less active and more attentive children,” it said.

“Thus, the relationship between early television viewing and later attention problems may be linked to child temperament as much as or more than television causing children to be inattentive” it concluded.
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wonder if this will shut up some of the "TV IS RUINING OUR CHILDREN" people....

and qwell some of those armchair psychologists and thier ridiculous theories like "it's all those channels, man! and the remote control! people flip around all the time and don't pay attention to anything...IT GIVES THEM ADD..IT DOES!"

ADD and ADHD are not aquired diseases. you don't get them from watching too much TV, or from an "over-stimulated" culture...
the effects of culture have thier limits.

[ASsman]

Told you.


I watch assloads of crappy TV. Look at me, I'm fine.

[instigator7022]

my 6 year old sister watches tons of T.V. and she's probably the smartest 6 year old I've ever encountered.

She seriously talks like an adult and can understand whats she's talking about.

[monkey]

ive been watching too much tv since i was 12 and...


i dont know.

[ms.peachy]

I don't think I've ever argued that it causes ADHD. My problem with excessive television is more the effects on overall health (levels of physical activity, overeating) and the programming of kids as consumers. That and the general quality of what kids are watching, and whether or not parents are montioring teh content of what they watch for age-appropriateness. I can't imagine loads of TV actually helps kids who have ADHD (although I accept that it may indeed give parents of said kids some respite).

[cj hood]

adhd doesn't exist.........

[ASsman]

Shutup. Scientologist nut job!

[GreenEarthAl]

I continue to think that TV makes children into rambunctious, sexually confused, miniature morons --especially in large quantities. But as for the cause of ADHD... the obvious cause of ADHD is pharmaceutical companies.

(the Pharma Corps are also the leading cause of mollifying studies.)

[Ace42X]

ADHD, in my opinion, is caused by socially constraining children's natural tendancies. TV is a manifestation of this - it is what children do when they can't be climbing trees and burning off their energy, and doing all the other "play" activities that help them to learn about the world first-hand.

Thus, it makes sense that the two are linked (there is a correlation), without it being the case that there is a causal link between TV and ADHD.

[fucktopgirl]

tv is a nasty brainwash ,it is an intruments to numb people mind and spirit!

[Anne Lauren]

Well, ADHD/ADD, is a medical disorder, specifically a brain disability. A person's brain is made up of theta waves, which affect a person's ability to concentrate, largely affects their "impuse control", how quickly they are to respond to outside stimuli, etc. A "normal" person's theta waves move at a constant, regular pace. A person's theta waves with ADHD/ADD, move slowly, irregularily, and in smaller amounts...which, inturn, can cause them to exibit symptoms of hyperactivity, irrational spontaneous behavior, and poor concentration skills. This is because, basically, in so many words, they are subconsciously trying to prevent their "brains from falling asleep"...just a simple basic way to look at it. They're usually "all over the place", taking in every stimulas around them. That's why "speed" is typically a medication that is prescribed to people with this disorder...it speeds up their theta waves, in order to bring them up to a normal pace consitant with a "normal" brain's, and compensate for their lack of proper production. Now, ADHD/ADD, is a very recently dicovered disorder...so, it is to a great deal very largely over diagnosed and treated, especially in adolescents, because there still is so much more research and studies that need to be done on it. However, it is, for the most part, not seemed to be largely linked to genetics (similar to schizophrenia)...plus, it is more commonly found in males, and with people that have normal to lower I.Q.'s.

Now, I had a proffessor in grad. school, that headed up one of the research projects being done on ADHD/ADD...and he strongly believed that a person had the ability to physically overcome this brain disorder (which I strongly agree with). He was working on this experiment, inwhich, a person that had this disorder, would sit down and be hooked to electrodes (that measured the person's theta wave movements/concentration). The person would be asked to view this screen, infront of them, that had the image of a sun on it....they were asked to concentrate on the image of this sun and make it rise over the image of a mountain (like during sunrise). The more the person was able to focus all their attention and concentration on this sun...the more it rose over the mountain (and vice versa). So, essentially, this was a way to force the brain to concentrate on one specific stimulas that was being presented infront of them. Now, granted, this experiment was conducted over many sessions...and you must remember the University was funding this, so a lot of time and money was being put into this.

My master's was in Research Psychology, so, pretty much every major disorder, etc. that's part of the DSM...I have either studied or done research on. Fascinating stuff! (y)

[Documad]

TV causes obesity and insensitivity to violence, but not ADHD.

[miss_bhaven]

My cousin has ADHD, and he is 8 years of age - t.v. had nothing what-so-ever to do with the cause of it. I agree with Ms Peachy on t.v. causing lack of physical activity, overeating etc. But ADHD, I believe has barely anything to do with television.

[zorra_chiflada]

my mother's a dietician, and in her opinion, she believes that adhd is caused both by the child's diet, and the diet of the mother when the child was in utero.

[miss_bhaven]

my mother's a dietician, and in her opinion, she believes that adhd is caused both by the child's diet, and the diet of the mother when the child was in utero.

Hrmm! Sounds about right :p

[Anne Lauren]

my mother's a dietician, and in her opinion, she believes that adhd is caused both by the child's diet, and the diet of the mother when the child was in utero.

I'm, honestly, very curious...how does she think that a child's diet can cause ADHD/ADD? Now, I'm understanding how the diet of a mother while the child was in utero, might be a factor...especially, during the developement stage of the brain.

But, she's a dietician, I'm not...so, I'm wondering what sorts of food might directly affect a child's concentration levels, as far as, how the biological physical aspects of the brain are affected, as a result?

Seriously...there are a ton of theories out there.

[zorra_chiflada]

I'm, honestly, very curious...how does she think that a child's diet can cause ADHD/ADD? Now, I'm understanding how the diet of a mother while the child was in utero, might be a factor...especially, during the developement stage of the brain.

But, she's a dietician, I'm not...so, I'm wondering what sorts of food might directly affect a child's concentration levels, as far as, how the biological physical aspects of the brain are affected, as a result?

Seriously...there are a ton of theories out there.


probably something to do with food preservatives. or maybe even the high carbohydrate diet that kids have this day in age.

[Rancid_Beasties]

Tuna is good for your brain isnt it? If you fed a kid with adhd nothing but tuna maybe that would help.

[Qdrop]

I continue to think that TV makes children into rambunctious, sexually confused, miniature morons --especially in large quantities. But as for the cause of ADHD... the obvious cause of ADHD is pharmaceutical companies.

(the Pharma Corps are also the leading cause of mollifying studies.)
tin hats for everyone!

[Qdrop]

probably something to do with food preservatives. or maybe even the high carbohydrate diet that kids have this day in age.

tin hats for everyone!

I think it's caused by space dust!
that's just as plausible as that theory....

[Qdrop]

TV causes [...]insensitivity to violence,
prove it.

[roosta]

im paraphrasing some dude we read about in class this year:

in over 40 years of study there has yet to be a conclusive link found between TV and insensitivity to violence, so we must then assume that it is not there. the only people who still put out these reports are more often than not linked to conservative groups.

he wrote this really good article basically tearing apart all the studies which perport to shot all these links. if i can find it ill link it.

we did a whole load about this in college this year. that's all i have to add to this topic.

[Freebasser]

TV causes rectal bleeding.

[Qdrop]

TV causes rectal bleeding.

yeah, i read that report.

the science is a little shakey.
but more plausible than ADHD.

[Anne Lauren]

Well, actually, they've found, for the most part...that people that tend to be interested in/or watch a lot of violent, gruesome, sexually-graphic, etc. TV programs (movies)...are already prone to having that mentality to begin with. In other words, TV doesn't cause someone to behave/or view "the world" in a certain way or reality...they, more than likely, were already like that.

If that makes sense...if they had "violent" tendencies or whatever to begin with, then it only makes sense that they would be "attracted" to certain forms of entertainment that might exibit violence... i.e, through video games, movies, etc.

Like, for example, with the whole Columbine shootings...a lot of people (mainly the media) blaimed the computer game, Doom, as a reason for the students violent behaviors. Well, in all actuality, they were a couple of delusional, troubled young men to begin with.

Granted, we're discussing ADHD, so I don't want to stray to far from topic...however, this whole idea that TV might be a cause, just got me thinking.

[roosta]

Hmmm..."tearing apart"? "shot"? You're sounding pretty violent there roosta, how much TV do you watch?

no my violent tendancies come from a solid 10 years of listening to gangsta rap

[Anne Lauren]

im paraphrasing some dude we read about in class this year:

in over 40 years of study there has yet to be a conclusive link found between TV and insensitivity to violence, so we must then assume that it is not there. the only people who still put out these reports are more often than not linked to conservative groups.

he wrote this really good article basically tearing apart all the studies which perport to shot all these links. if i can find it ill link it.

we did a whole load about this in college this year. that's all i have to add to this topic.

Hey, you a psych. major? That was exactly my point and what we learned...I just now noticed your post.

[roosta]

Hey, you a psych. major? That was exactly my point and what we learned...I just now noticed your post.

Nope, doing Communications...but every year we have classes that touch on media affects/cognition and what not.....

[ms.peachy]

tin hats for everyone!

I think it's caused by space dust!
that's just as plausible as that theory....
I don't know that it's such a stretch to think that things like antenatal nutrition may play a part. It makes sense to me that a woman who has had a reasonably healthy, balanced diet may have a higher likelyhood of having a non-affected child than a woman who consumed a lot of processed, additive-laden one. After all, all eating is biochemistry in action. The problem is of course is that it's pretty much impossbile to test these sorts of things ethically - it's not like you cna recruit 100 pregnant woman and knowingly give half of them shit food just to see if their kids come out with a load of cognitive problems, you know? But clearly we know, for example, about FAS, and that the toxin of alcohol affects fetal brain development. But we don't neccessarily know what food additives or pesticides etc might, because no one can isolate and study what effects traces of these substances have on a developing human brain.

Compare it also to what we know about breastfeeding vs bottle feeding - we know that neonatal biochemistry is most definitely affected by which course is followed.

[Anne Lauren]

Nope, doing Communications...but every year we have classes that touch on media affects/cognition and what not.....

Yeah, my minor with my bachelor's was in that...well, techniquely, speech communication. And, honestly, most of the material covered was the same as in a lot of my psych. classes...such as, social psych, etc.

[zorra_chiflada]

tin hats for everyone!

I think it's caused by space dust!
that's just as plausible as that theory....


uh. no it isn't. it's actually the most plausible theory there is.