A study that was published in Archives of Disease in Childhood says that babies who cry excessively, and who have problems with feeding and with sleeping, are at a greater risk of developing ADHD when they are older. This is one of many studies that has been in the media lately regarding ADHD, it’s potential causes, and the possible early warning signs.
There seems to be a whole lot of studies lately that have attempted to determine what the cause of ADHD is. Other studies seem to be pointing out what could be an early warning sign that a child is at a higher risk of developing ADHD. While it’s good to be aware of the latest scientific findings regarding ADHD, it can be a little overwhelming to read about the results of all these studies, all at once.
Off the top of my head I can think of a study that says that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk for developing a number of behavioral or mental disorders, including ADHD. Another study found a link between premature birth and ADHD. There is the suggestion that certain food dyes could exasperate hyperactivity in all children, but especially in children that have ADHD, and there are have been some genetic links that seem to connect with ADHD.
As if those studies weren’t enough for a parent to read over and consider, there is a new one to add to the pile of information. A new study finds that babies that cry excessively after the age of three months, for reasons other than colic, are at a greater risk of developing ADHD later in life.
The study looked at almost 17,000 children. Researchers compared data from 22 different studies that took place between 1987 and 2006. This is what allowed them to find a link between excessive crying, and ADHD. They do not think that the excessive crying causes ADHD, but rather that it is an early symptom of ADHD, and other behavioral problems, (such as anxiety, depression, and aggressive behavior).
What does “excessive crying” actually mean? According to WebMD it means intense and unsoothable bouts of crying that are happening for no apparent reason, and that happen in the first three months of an infant’s life. It means babies who have great difficulty sleeping, who have problems settling, and who do not sleep through the night without interruption.
In addition to this, the study also connected babies who had issues with food with a higher risk of developing ADHD. This means the baby vomits frequently, refuses food, has very little appetite, or has some problems with swallowing. In the past, babies who had these conditions may have been referred to as “colicky”. Today, doctors find that many of these babies actually have a mild acid reflux going on, instead of colic.
Image by Chris Parfitt on Flickr