There are a lot of myths and misconceptions circulating about what causes a person to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For parents, there is nothing more offensive (and inaccurate) than the idea that bad parenting is to blame.

Unfortunately, this is one of the first assaults many parents experience when it is suggested that their child's behavior is due to a lack of discipline.

Let's Set The Record Straight

Bad parenting does NOT cause ADHD, but it can contribute to the severity of how the symptoms present themselves.

Here's what we know:

• ADHD is a biological condition
• It is greatly influenced by our DNA
• There is no cure for ADHD

That's what we are up against.

So to some degree, if you want to blame parents, then I guess it is their fault because of the DNA we pass on to our children.

All joking aside, ADHD is a complex condition that is still greatly misunderstood and unknown to a certain degree. Although our body of knowledge is increasing, the complexity of the brain and how behaviors are influenced will likely continue to challenge us.

While "bad parenting" does not cause ADHD, parenting style (like so many other things) can influence a child's behavior and how they experience their symptoms.

A child with ADHD is different than any other child. In fact, a child with ADHD today is different than a child from our generation or our parent's generation.

Let's face it... We live in a society where discilpine has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. Teachers are no longer allowed to physcially "discipline" children. Recess and gym exercises are being cut from curriculums all the time.

All of these factors contribute to why we see ADHD more today than ever before.

We all know that children are not born with a manual. We've heard it all before. Each child is different and unique, even within families. Our first child sets the tone for what we expect, until the next one comes along and challenges everything we think we know.

When a child comes into my office, most of the time I don't want to see their chart and I don't want to be influenced by what other people have experienced.

I want a fresh perspective. I want to experience the child for myself and get a general understanding of who he or she really is as a person.

I want to see for myself what this child or family is up against, and I want to identify the challenges imposed upon by the society and community where they exist.

Rest Assured:

ADHD is not caused by bad parenting. If a child has ADHD, it's not because you did something wrong or because you are a failure. Don't put that pressure on yourself.

While parenting style can certainly influence a child's behavior, it's not set in stone. There are things you can do to make a change in your life and in your child's life...

The Keys:

If you really want the keys to understanding how to parent a child with ADHD, here are my quick, dirty tips:

• Consistency
• Reliability
• Flexibility
• Dependability
• A Good Sense of Humor