Reuters Health has released findings that children who are exposed to pesticides could put them at a higher risk of developing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This could be promising news to parents whose children are dealing with ADHD.
ADHD is a common condition that children seem to be increasingly dealing with. Yet there has been nothing to indicate what causes ADHD. This could be the link that many have been looking for. The pesticides, known as organophosphates, are usually found in produce. However, at this point there is really no way of knowing which products and to what degree the pesticides could be at fault.
There will be more studies done on this, however, parents are urged to be careful about the insecticides used around the home and making sure that all produce is thoroughly washed before eating.
Although thousands of children are diagnosed every year with ADHD, I think parents need to be cautious about that diagnosis. When my oldest son was 9 years old he was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and ADHD. If you are interested in learning more about Tourette syndrome, I wrote an article on that: What Is Tourette Syndrome?
I completely agreed with the TS diagnosis, however, I was not so sure about the ADHD. I really felt he was just a typical boy. However, upon observation of my son the doctor felt that he could use medication. He wasn’t even living with my son and he wanted to medicate him. I hadn’t even considered medication.
As my son got older, he began to settle down. Yes, when he was younger he was very rambunctious, would never sit still and seemed to get distracted by everything including the wind. But if you were to meet my son today, who is 16, you would never guess that he had been diagnosed with ADHD. He is so mellow and laidback. He gets good grades and can concentrate very well.
Yes, ADHD is a real condition and I do believe that there are some children who really are dealing with it. But I think too many children are misdiagnosed. I also think the findings by Reuters Health indicate a need for parents to be more careful about what they feed their children. I know I will be.
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