Can ADD/Oppositional etc be Passed Down to Birth Children

Elizabeth, I have ADD, my son has ADHD... my other son, who was placed for adoption at birth, does not have ADD or any other disorder. I am assuming that yes, there is a genetic component there. I am also assuming that while heredity plays a role, environment is also a factor. I've done some research on the subject, but I've never been able to come up with anything definitive. :confused: ~ Shar

add and odd are two extremely different things they say add can be passed down .yes but it also occurs in stressful deliveries ... add means you find it hard to concentrate and i had it my whole life without meds and did fine my daughter is on a very very small dose of meds and is all As and Bs odd is something alltogether different, more of a behavioral disorder.

Hi, ADHD/ADD kids have been shown (with PET scans) to have decreased glucose uptake in the area's of the brain that control impulses, ability to focus etc.. There is believed to be a genetic component also. Our son (adopted) has moderately severe ADHD..along with that he has learning differences. It has been very hard at times..he could not tolerate any of the stimulant medications becuase of the side effects. For the last 3 years he has been off meds. He needed to be placed in Special Ed classes at school, although he is very bright, he just can't focus long enough to learn well. He was climbing out of his crib at 12 months, trying to climb onto the roof at age 2, had 3 broken arms (all at school),,the Pediatrician kept saying "he is just all boy".. When I went into her office one time, I just burst out in tears,,she finally realized that he was more than "all boy"..we went to behavioral MD's, counselors, psychologists etc.. he was tried on meds, went from failing every subject to getting straight A's! But, the side effects were too much. Now, we try to adapt the classroom to him, he has an IEP . He has many positive attributes, he is very funny, an excellent artist and great skateboarder. He has also been on the Feingold diet ..I made all his baby food from scratch, and he does not eat anything with artificial dyes in it,,esp red dye... his whole personality changes if he eats something with red dye in it. Because of us always being positive and helping him, he has a great self esteem and loves school. He is still very challenging at times, but we are making it! Take care, Cathy

I was told by a physician who specialized in Psychology that ADD does have a genetic component. My B-Mom is bi-polar, I suffer with mild depression and anxiety, my eldest is dyslexic and my middle ADD...the youngest had severe articulation delay (speech). She (Dr) told me that there is a genetic component and it can manifest itself in many different and unpredicted ways...she even mentioned Irritable Bowel syndrome... We all have something in our families...we all have the chance that a child will "have" something... Your benefit is that you know the signs and if it occurs, you can deal with it early and effectively. Besides having gone through the struggles as a child/teen has most likely made you much more compassionate...you would probably make a good advocate. Angie

I believe that bad sitiuations can cause a serious inability to concentrate, or rather hyper-focusing on inappropriate things for the time or place. But I hardly think this type of adhd/add could be passed genetically to one's children.I rather believe that upsettedness and/or life problems can be severe enough to alter your body chemically which effects a baby. But as you are aware of the problems I don't think this would be your case.

I don't think anybody is sure yet if it is genetic or environmental, my son's bmom was diagnosed adhd, and he was diagnosed adhd at age 5. He has been with us since age 7, retested and found that he was not adhd and has not been on meds for over a year and is doing fine. In my personel opionion I do believe that adhd in most cases is environmental, but that is just my opionion.

I do agree that ADD/ADHD can be worsened in certain environmental conditions, but it can't be entirely environmental. If it were every child within a family would have it. That is certainly not the case in my family, nor in many of the families that have one ADD/ADHD child and the rest not affected. For that matter, my son has a good friend who is ADHD and blessed with adoptive parents who do everything in their power to manage his ADHD; effective parenting, consistent scheduling and a well managed diet, and he still must be medicated. His is a case of ADHD that is most definately not environmental. We have to be careful in "labelling" ADD/ADHD as something environmental or caused by bad parenting. This just furthers the stereotypes, and undermines the fact that it is an actual medical/brain chemistry issue with certain people. Yes there are parents who medicate children rather than parent them, yes there are ineffective or dysfunctional parents, but there are many who are "good" parents who deal with an ADD/ADHD child every day, as well as individuals who deal with ADD/ADHD every day. It is very real to them. Just as you would never deny a diabetic their medications and treatment, we shouldn't be too quick to judge those with different brain chemistry.

Hi Thanks, I totally agree with you...by the way,,,even though our son is impulsive etc..he rarely gets into trouble at school etc..and had lot of friends...you are right, it is not a lack of parenting skills etc..thanks for your post,,Cathy

You stated: COLOR=blue]Can I unavoidably pass down my anger and resentment issues toward being abandoned, being snubbed by birth relatives and the like to my own children? Yes, you can transmit those feelings to your children. As an example, the best predictor of a child's state of mind with respect to attachment is the parent's state of mind with respect to attachment. Parents with a healthy and secure attachment transmit that and parents with a "disorganized" attachment transmit that to their children. You also asked: know that these things are deep and I am aware of them, but I have heard someone say that ADD and the like can be from family dysfunction. Is that true? ADD or ADHD have strong genetic components and are transmitted ...the acorn doesn't fall far from the Oak sort of thing. ADD/ADHD runs in families. It can also be caused by birth trauma or head injuries or other neurological trauma...it can be seen in FAS, for example. ODD (Oppositional Definant Behavior) is not a biologically based or genetically derived disorder. It is a psychological or behavioral condition caused by environmental and relationship dynamics. regards.