Media devices do not cause ADHD, researcher says

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Florida International University Psychologist Margaret Sibley says there is no evidence media devices cause ADHD, despite a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that says otherwise.

While many teens appear to be constantly distracted by electronic devices, Sibley says being distracted does not necessarily mean they have ADHD.

“Distractibility and motivation problems are common in adolescence, but these problems do not usually represent ADHD,” Sibley said. “Up to 40 percent of teenagers will experience symptoms of ADHD at some point during their adolescence including concentration difficulties that could be due to normal teenage distractions or mental health difficulties like depression or drug use.”

Sibley is a board member of the non-profit organization Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity…

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