Despite the fact that ADHD is one of the most common childhood conditions, scientists and medical experts still don't know what causes this condition.

Many experts claim that ADHD is related to heredity while other experts claim that diet at least plays a large role. Still, other experts suggest that environment may play a role in the cause of ADHD.

The truth is that there is evidence to support all of these theories yet, neither theory fits all. Let's have a look at the case for both heredity,diet and environment to see why these three things may well be at least part of the answer to finding the cause of ADHD.

The Case For Heredity

Studies indicate that parents who have ADHD are more likely to have a child with ADHD. Studies also indicate that the brains of those who have ADHD look somewhat different than the brains of people who don't.

So, this certainly suggests that heredity plays a part in ADHD. However, there may be things other than heredity that may explain the parent/child ADHD connection.

The Case For Diet Being The Cause Of ADHD

Studies of children with ADHD have shown that children with ADHD tend to have lower levels of 3 vital nutrients than do their non ADHD peers. These nutrients are Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Magnesium, and Zinc.

It just may be that ADHD children are deficient in these three nutrients and that their parents may show similar deficiencies.

If so, this may either mean that heredity causes people with ADHD to have difficulty absorbing those nutrients into their system or it could mean that the parents are simply not eating enough foods containing these nutrients and since young children eat what their parents do, their diet may be the culprit of these missing nutrients.

The Case For Environment

Some studies seem to indicate that children in Foster care or those who suffer neglect or abuse are more likely to have ADHD than children who have never been in foster care regardless of whether or not the child's birth parent has ADHD.

This seems to indicate that environment may play a role in ADHD or at least in symptoms of ADHD.

Of course, since children are often removed from their birth homes due to neglect or abuse, then it may also mean that the child did not get a healthy diet in the home which may be a causal link since ADHD children often are deficient in some nutrients.

While parents may not be able to do much about a hereditary/ADHD link. If environment and diet do play a role in ADHD there is much that parents can do to help their child to control and reduce some of the symptoms of ADHD.

Giving your child natural homeopathic supplements that increase the levels of Magnesium, Zinc, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in your child may help to reduce some of those symptoms.

Other dietary changes may help as well. Also, learning how to effectively discipline a child with ADHD, providing a structured and a less stimulating environment can help to ease any environmental causes that may contribute to ADHD symptoms.

So while scientist may still not know for sure what causes ADHD, there are things that can be done to help your child cope with this condition.