Twin study shows environment can affect students with ADHD

By Staff Writer

Environmental conditions may affect the academic achievement of children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a recent study reveals.

Researchers from Florida State University conducted a study involving identical and fraternal twins, which allowed them to decipher the difference between nature and nurture. Each pair of twins was tested on their reading and math ability at about age 10, and their mothers filled out surveys on any related problems with their ADHD.

Identical twins have practically the same DNA, which means that they have similar physical traits and behaviors. Fraternal twins share about half of their DNA, which means that they are less likely to be identical in appearance and academic performance. Behavior that bucks these twin patterns are typically influenced by environmental causes.

In the study, there were differences in math and reading scores among twins, which suggests environmental influences. Although researchers are not aware of the definitive causes, they speculated that ADHD severity may be related to aspects of the classroom and homework environments.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of children who are diagnosed with ADHD increased by about 22 percent from 2003 to 2007.