The Big Three in ADHD

The Big Three in ADHD

Does your child have symptoms of ADHD? If you have a child or student that is constantly fidgety, inattentive, impulsive, and unfocused in a manner that's inappropriate for their age or development, they may have ADHD--especially if it runs in their family. If you think that your child or student might have ADHD, you should know about the natural chemicals (or neurotransmitters) that can misfire in the brain.

Neurotransmitters (pronounced nuro-trans-mitters) are chemical messages that the brain sends throughout your body by special cells called neurons. Neurons carry chemical messages that affect your thoughts, emotions, and actions and regulate your entire body. Your brain coordinates how, when, where, and why it releases these chemicals. If the brain doesn't release these chemical signals at the correct moment, with precision and strength, the whole body and mind can become dysregulated. Kids and adults may experience the inability to control their focus, emotions, and behavior consistently at school, work, or home.

So, though we usually leave brain and chemical terminology to doctors and scientists, it's still important for parents and teachers to know the names and functions of the neurotransmitters I call the Big Three in ADHD. As you read the definitions below, note that the neurotransmitters work together and complement each other’s primary roles and functions.

Dopamine

Dopamine regulates motivation, focus, and reward. The brain releases dopamine as a reward in response to any activity we do that feels good. That's why kids can become addicted to video games—or exciting multisensory learning. Dopamine creates a "rush." And the brain says whatever you just did, do it again, and again, and again. And each time you do it, you'll get more dopamine. Since we tend to focus on the things that make us feel good, dopamine is also crucial for maintaining focus and attention. When the brain is not releasing enough dopamine or if it's not releasing dopamine consistently, kids (and adults) will consciously or unconsciously try to stimulate dopamine by moving or seeking other means of excitement. Fidgeting or constant movement is often a child's plea for "more dopamine now--please!!!"

Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine (or noradrenalin) plays a critical role in selective attention and alertness. When kids are trying to pay attention to a teacher in a classroom filled with other kids and several distractions, the brain releases norepinephrine to help turn down the background noise and increase the strength of the signal (or lesson) that the child needs to focus on. Or, if you're at a party trying to pay attention to one person in a room packed with people and filled with noise, your brain will release norepinephrine to help you focus on the face in front of you. When the brain doesn't transmit enough norepinephrine, the background noise clouds out focus, and kids can become bored and sleepy. Focus is gone. Drifting takes its place. And sleep is soon to follow.

Serotonin

Serotonin helps regulate our emotions and keeps our moods stable. If you're a teacher or parent, you've probably witnessed the "total meltdown." Whether they're screaming, kicking, or simply staring in depressive surrender, children with ADHD find it difficult to respond to external attempts to "bring them out of it" or normalize their behavior. Tragically, their "non-compliance" is too often regarded as obstinacy and willful compulsive disobedience. But if we could pause before the negative diagnosis, we might consider that their brains are experiencing serotonin deficits precisely at the time their bodies need it most.

The good news is, however, that energetic, rhythmic movement blended with meaning, stimulates the brain to release dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in powerful, consistent signals. A five-minute high energy movement-break that cross trains the body and brain will help kids focus, control their emotions, and get excited about learning. Try it.