ADHD or THETA Brainwaves
- Lavenderbuddy
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
ADD vs. ADHD
If your child daydreams a lot at school, is easily distracted while doing homework or chores, or fidgets constantly, you might wonder if they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Or is it attention deficit disorder ADD?
Or perhaps you're wondering if you could have ADD or ADHD yourself, ever since you were a younger person, and never got diagnosed.
Is there a difference between ADD and ADHD?
Not exactly. These are really two names for the same condition, but ADD isn't used by professionals anymore. You might still hear people use the name ADD, but it isn't an official diagnosis. A person with ADD today would be diagnosed with one of the three subtypes of ADHD instead.
ADHD, predominantly inattentive presentation
ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation
ADHD, combined presentation (both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms)
Your diagnosis will depend on the specific symptoms.
It’s a brain disorder that affects how you pay attention, sit still, and control your behavior.
It’s usually spotted during the early school years, when a child begins to have problems paying attention......You don't say!
A child with inattentive ADHD may:
Should we reframe this???????
1.Frequent hyperactivity- wanting to move the body- Normal
2.Impulsivity- Pre frontal cortex is underdeveloped
3.Difficulty sustaining attention (especially in structured settings like school) - attention span chart available below
4.Challenges with following instructions or organising tasks- that's a pre frontal cortex skill which is also underdeveloped
5.Having a hard time waiting their turn- Young children are naturally possessive and should not be expected to act beyond his age. Second, forced sharing or mandated turn-taking is not really sharing at all, but simply means that a child is complying with the demand of a more powerful individual — the parent, or teacher, or caregiver.
Research has shown a correlation between theta waves and ADHD. Children with ADHD have been found to exhibit higher levels of theta waves than their non-ADHD peers.
Theta waves, with a frequency range of 4-7Hz, serve as the cerebral rhythm fostering children’s brain activity during times of relaxation and drowsiness. These oscillations are crucial for cognitive functions, playing a background role in the enhancement of memories and the promotion of imaginative and creative thinking. Distinct from the faster frequencies of alpha and beta waves, which are associated with wakefulness and active cognitive processing, theta waves represent the slow wave activity that dominates the brain wave patterns during periods of quiet wakefulness and the initial stages of sleep.
Theta brainwaves, therefore, represent a key neural oscillation in healthy brains, particularly in the frontal midline region, and play a pivotal role in the executive function and cognitive development of youth.
However, it is important to note that not all children with high levels of theta waves will necessarily have ADHD. Studies have also found that theta wave patterns in children with anxiety can impact academic performance.
Theta waves are a fascinating and integral part of children’s cognitive and emotional development. These waves signify the brain’s remarkable ability to absorb, integrate, and solidify new information, forming the building blocks of future behavior, learning, and personality. Far from being harmful, the presence of theta waves in children is a sign of a healthy, active brain engaged in the critical work of development.
For parents, educators, and caregivers, a deeper understanding of theta waves and their significance opens up a realm of possibilities for fostering a nurturing environment. It emphasizes the profound impact of early experiences and interactions on a child’s developmental trajectory. The environments we create for children, the experiences we provide, and the behaviors we model influence their present-day actions and shape their future.
So should we be asking ourselves firstly:
Is the Nursery and School environment causing the abundant ADHD testing at 7 after the stress of early years in a system that has not understood their brain development needs?
The structure of learning and sitting in seats, not able to go to the bathroom, stand in line, be quiet, behave, listen...... its endless and maybe too much for their brains by taking them out of THETA and into BETA too quickly this young?
The brain’s early programming: Theta waves and suggestibility
From birth to age 8, children’s brains function in what is often referred to as a “hypnotic” state. This means they’re primed to learn, imitate, and internalize everything in their environment, without the filters that adults typically use to assess or question new information. During this time, children operate predominantly in the theta brainwave frequency, which is associated with deep imagination, emotional intuition, and openness to suggestion.
For example, a child who frequently disrupts classroom activities or struggles to focus may prompt teachers or parents to seek an evaluation for ADHD children, ADHD symptoms often begin to manifest around the age of 7.
ADHD can often be identified in children around the age of 7, although signs may be noticeable earlier.
The Education system in Finland works perfectly in flow with children's brains.
Equality is the cornerstone of Finnish education. Equality in the Finnish context does not mean ‘uniform’ or ‘the same’. It means equal access to quality education, which is defined as equal right to an individual education, personalized learning paths and a whole education focused on problem-solving skills and life skills, instead of mindless regurgitation of facts.
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