Near the end of last year, I wrote an article outlining many of the ways in which we understand ADHD to be primarily caused by genetics. My writing was sparked by Gabor Maté’s insistence that ADHD is caused by trauma.
It’s not.
There’s no evidence of a causal link, but there is a correlation.
Dr. Maté is a well-respected expert in understanding the impacts of trauma but is not an expert on ADHD. Regardless, I am certain Dr. Maté’ took psychology 101 and knows full well correlation does not equal causation.
Having outlined evidence of a strong genetic component in the development of ADHD, and an estimated heritability rate between 75–80%, I now want to explain why someone might conflate ADHD, autism, and trauma.
Namely, I’ll explain why there are so many similarities, and how one can look like the other.
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