ADHD and Sleep Disorders
Interest in the link between ADHD and sleep has grown over the last couple of years. Back in June, Myomancy covered Snoring, Sleep and Hyperactivity which demonstrated a correlation between snoring and hyperactivity. In Israel they have now taken that research further.
Thirty four ADHD children were studied and compared to 32 non-ADHD children. Each child spent a night a sleep in the centre where they were filmed and monitored by numerous pieces of equipment. Next day they received a multiple sleep latency test to assess how rested they are.
The researched found that twice as many of the ADHD chidren suffered from some degree of sleep-disordered breathing (such as sleep apnea, which is characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep that last 10 seconds or more, at least five times per hour). About one sixth of the ADHD children also had Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (also known as nocturnal myoclonus) where the patient moves involuntarily during sleep. It can range from a small amount in the ankles and toes to wild flailing of all four limbs. This disorder is rare in children and none of the control group suffered from this problem.
It is important to remember that this is a correlational study that does not establish cause or effect. We do not know if sleep problems cause ADHD or ADHD causes sleep problems.
Study Abstract: Sleep disorders and daytime sleepiness in children with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder
Coverage from Israel21c: Children with ADHD may need sleep, Israeli study finds
Find Out More:
Books:
- Teenagers With ADD: A Parents’ Guide (The Special-Needs Collection)
- Teenagers With ADD: A Parents’ Guide (The Special-Needs Collection)
- Beyond Ritalin: Facts About Medication and Other Strategies for Helping Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders
- Ritalin Is Not The Answer: A Drug-Free, Practical Program for Children Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD
- Learning Disabilities:: How to Recognize and Manage Learning and Behavioral Problems in Children
November 2nd, 2005
ADD / ADHD, Science
Comments on: ADHD and Sleep Disorders
my son is ten months old and barely sleeps at night or during the day, he doesnt sleep peacfuly when he is a sleep he is constantly fidgiting and when he is a wake he is always on the go, could it be possible that he is suffering from adhd?
Posted by: michaela cudworth October 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I don’t really know, but your son sounds a lot like my daughter. She is 3 years old. She barely slept at all as a baby and she had very restless sleep. To this day, we still have to get up in the night to tend to her. She thrashes about in the bed and even talks to us. The doctor thinks it could be night terrors. She is being investigated for ADHD right now. She is also a hyperactive little kid. She is always going in fast forward. She is clumsy and aggressive, too.
Posted by: Jennifer November 21st, 2008 at 9:35 pm
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