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Is ADHD Caused by Poor Parenting or Watching Too Much TV?

Do you ever blame yourself for your child’s ADHD? Do you think that giving them a little free time has an adverse effect? Parental guilt is healthy. Whether you feel responsible for passing on genes, or the day to day activity they participate in, there is no reason a parent should feel responsible for a diagnosis.

Laura Lurns Last updated February 24, 2025 · 1 min read

On the Dr. Phil show, he speaks with a guest, Hilary, who has a young daughter who is out of control. This young girl has frequent emotional outbursts and suffers from ADHD, which impairs her ability to concentrate, behaviour, and to perform well in school. Hilary is quite worried about her daughter.

This topic brings up the discussion of whether poor parenting and watching too much television cause ADHD. Regardless of the actual causation, most experts agree that excessive television time and parental apathy does contribute to the magnification of the condition. Thus, quality parenting and limiting TV time is of absolute importance in managing the problems connected to ADHD.

Key takeaways

The Dr. Phil show examines the behavior problems of a seven year old girl who has ADHD.
The child demonstrates severe behavioral issues and lacks self-control.
The show raises the question regarding what environmental factor contribute (positively and negatively) to a child’s behavior and subsequent disorders.

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A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.

Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.

Key takeaways

Is your child struggling in school?

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