![]() Another national survey on children found similar results. The same study found that more than half of adults reported at least one adverse childhood experience, and more than a quarter reported two or more. At about four times greater risk for chronic bronchitis or emphysema.More than twice as likely to have heart disease and experience stroke. ![]() 1 According to the study, adults with four or more ACEs are: One study of more than 17,000 adults found that, as participants reported more adverse experiences in childhood, the chances of participating in risk behaviors and of developing a chronic disease also increased. They include but are not limited to:Īs ACEs accumulate, they also increase the odds of high-risk health behaviors and can eventually lead to the most severe outcome associated with ACEs: early death. ACEs are stressful or traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 that have negative effects on physical, social, and emotional well-being. Trauma and Adverse Childhood ExperiencesĪnother way to understand how traumatic stress impacts ADHD and overall well-being is to look at the science behind adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Toxic levels of stress hormones can even cause neuronal cell death, especially in the prefrontal cortex (a region associated with executive function, self-regulation, and attention) and the limbic systems (associated with learning, memory, emotional regulation, and reactivity). This may lead to what we term maladaptive behavioral responses – they include ADHD and other conditions like anxiety and mood disorders. Regions of the brain involved in fear, anxiety, and impulsivity may overproduce neural connections, while areas dedicated to reasoning, planning, and behavioral control may actually produce fewer neural connections. Studies indicate that toxic stress can have an adverse impact on brain development in children. ![]() However, when these buffering relationships are unavailable, and when the stress response is long lasting, toxic stress may be the outcome. When this stress response is activated in children in the context of supportive adult relationships, these physiological effects are buffered. Cortisol, a stress hormone, is also released, helping to mobilize the body’s energy stores, activate the immune system, and even briefly enhance memory. When confronted with an acute adverse stressor, the body releases adrenaline, triggering the fight or flight response. The connection is likely rooted in toxic stress – the result of prolonged activation of the body’s stress management system. Traumatic stress, apart from other factors like premature birth, environmental toxins, and genetics, is associated with risk for ADHD. Traumatic Stress as a Risk Factor for ADHD For clinicians, especially, it’s critical to understand the relationship between ADHD and PTSD, what traumatic stress does to the brain, what may constitute trauma (including who is more at risk for experiencing unique traumatic stressors), and how to protect young patients against it. Our increasing knowledge of trauma’s impact necessitates trauma-informed approaches to ADHD assessment and treatment. ![]() At the same time, ADHD may also increase the risk of exposure to trauma. Trauma, if present with ADHD, can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. ADHD and trauma can also present similar symptoms, which may complicate assessment. Trauma and adversity can alter the brain’s architecture, especially in children, which may partly explain their link to the development of ADHD. Trauma and traumatic stress, according to a growing body of research, are closely associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD).
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