Though screen time doesn't cause ADHD, some studies have suggested that children with ADHD may be at increased risk of developing a screen addiction. While parents of children with ADHD can try to be aware of their kid's screen time, most children's screen time falls short of addiction, according to Lightfoot.
The ADHD Connection
Electronics can send steady doses of dopamine – a neurotransmitter – straight to the brain's reward center. And the damage doesn't stop with an ADHD diagnosis. Ongoing screen overload can cause symptoms to get worse, and cause other problems as well.
This myth hit the media in 2004 when a research group published a paper suggesting that toddlers who watched too much TV were at risk for attentional problems later in life. Fact: The study was wrong. television, but rest assured that, if they do, it will not cause ADHD.
A two-year-long USC study tracking 2,600 teens found that heavy users of digital devices are twice as likely to show symptoms of ADHD as those who are infrequent users.
For many individuals, ADHD impairments are made worse by their struggles with excessive anxiety, persistent depression, compulsive behaviors, difficulties with mood regulation, learning disorders, or other psychiatric disorders that may be transient, recurrent, or persistently disruptive of their ability to perform the ...
Another way to differentiate between the two is to look at the duration of the symptoms. ADHD is a chronic condition, and the symptoms tend to persist throughout an individual's life. On the other hand, technology addiction symptoms are typically only present during periods of excessive use.
Overstimulation is not only a symptom of ADHD; it's often seen in autistic people as well. People with ADHD and autistic people may display similar signs of hyperactivity when overstimulated, such as being extra reactive to sensory input (i.e., becoming fascinated by a specific object or fixating on a sensation).
Although it is true that overdiagnosis means that some people without ADHD receive treatment, on the whole, people with ADHD are actually undertreated.
People with ADHD are more likely to experience hyperfixation compared to non-ADHDers. On the other hand, ADHD hyperfocus refers to being deeply focused on a certain task or activity. Anyone can tap into this “flow state,” described as being fully engaged with a task without inner worries, fatigue, or boredom.
It's also true that lack of sleep can make ADHD symptoms worse. Because symptoms can look so similar, it's important for clinicians to rule out sleep disorders before diagnosing ADHD. It's not common for children to have such severe sleep issues that they're misdiagnosed with ADHD, but it can happen.
They recommend one hour or less per day for children over the age of two. In a digital age, though, that one hour might be an unrealistic goal. That's especially true when many children are doing more of their schoolwork and socialization online.
Inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing)
having a short attention span and being easily distracted. making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork. appearing forgetful or losing things. being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming.
ADHD meltdowns are sudden outbursts of frustration and anger that seem to come out of nowhere. If your child is struggling to control their emotions, there are ways to help them. For children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impulsivity can present in many ways.
Sensory overload happens when the information from at least one of the five senses overwhelms the brain's ability to process it. Common reactions include extreme irritability, agitation, and a fight-or-flight response.
When we feel like we are constantly unable to do tasks asked of us, it can lead to feelings of anxiety and worthlessness, which can lead to a meltdown, too. Meltdowns may occur when deep breaths and time-outs aren't working and angry outbursts are imminent ? .
Interestingly, girls with untreated ADHD may be more likely to blame and judge themselves for these problems, leading to a higher risk for low self-esteem than boys who have ADHD. They may also be more likely to have problems with substance abuse, eating disorders, and anxiety.
Untreated ADHD in adults can lead to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. This is because ADHD symptoms can lead to focus, concentration, and impulsivity problems. When these problems are not managed effectively, they can lead to feelings of frustration, irritability, and low self-esteem.
A girl with ADHD may have impulsivity and be hyper-talkative. She may be verbally impulsive, interrupt others, talk excessively, or change topics repeatedly during conversations. She might even blurt out words without thinking about their impact on others. Girls with ADHD can also be overly sensitive.
People with ADHD can be EVEN more susceptible to spending too much time with technology. ADHD makes it hard to concentrate/ focus on boring tasks but something like the TV/ computer is constantly entertaining.
“In the study, there's a correlation between how much you use your phone and how many symptoms of ADHD you say you have,” Dr. Sibley says. “We don't want to confuse people struggling with ADHD symptoms for a lifetime with a social media behavior that goes away when the social media goes away.
Some people with ADHD can be misunderstood often. They may often feel so many feelings and experience so many thoughts at once it can be difficult to articulate what they are thinking and feeling. This can result in ADHDers being anxious to talk in general, especially on the phone with no visual cues.