ADD, ADHD or...a sleep disorder?

Here’s a common situation that plays itself out often around the country – a parent takes their child to the doctor, and explains that their child has difficulty focusing on schoolwork or is unable to accomplish simple tasks at home. After receiving a quick rundown of the symptoms, the doctor diagnoses the child with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). What follows this disturbing diagnosis is usually a prescription for the ADD/ADHD medication-of-the-month, and a feeling of guilt from most parents for having to medicate their children in such a way.

But what if all that wasn’t necessary? There’s a disturbing trend developing - the misdiagnosis of sleep disorders as ADD or ADHD. Many parents, AND doctors, are simply unaware of that fact that ADD and ADHD share many of the symptoms as sleep disorders. Most doctors are more aware of and educated on ADD and ADHD, so their first instinct is to assume a child is suffering from one of those disorders and to recommend a medication to solve the problem. In reality, the problem may be as simple as the child not getting an adequate amount of sleep because of a sleep disorder they’re unknowingly suffering from.

According to recent research published in the journal Pediatrics, children with increased daytime sleepiness and other symptoms of sleep disordered breathing have an increased chance of inattention and hyperactivity (often associated with ADD or ADHD)—especially young boys. The study also concluded that between 7 and 12 percent of children snore regularly, putting them at high risk for sleep disordered breathing problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea. When children do not get the sleep their bodies require, they are at risk for health, performance and safety problems, often resulting in difficulties at school.

Here’s a real-life example for you – I treated a young boy, whose mother had been told he was suffering from ADHD. Ever since he was a baby, her son would go to sleep and wake up every two hours. This continued as he grew, and resulted in his waking up for school totally exhausted. By 9:30 in the morning, he was staring into space and falling asleep in class. As a result, he wasn’t focusing in school, his grades were slipping and he had become extremely irritable. My patient’s mother was told that her child was “a candidate for referral” – meaning he should be evaluated for a disorder such as ADD or ADHD. He underwent a full battery of evaluations – visiting with a variety of different medical professionals. He was ultimately prescribed medication for ADHD, which affected him quite adversely – it made him jerky, caused his pupils to tremble, and affected his sleeping patterns so that he actually slept LESS. Eventually, his neurologist suggested that he undergo a sleep study, and it was determined that what was originally believed to be ADHD was actually a sleep disorder. After beginning his treatment for the sleep disorder, his mother has seen a complete change in his schoolwork, behavior and health.

So please don’t ignore any symptoms your child may be exhibiting – make sure to educate yourself about ALL the possible culprits. If your doctor immediately diagnoses your child with ADD or ADHD after hearing the symptoms, make sure to discuss the possibility of a sleep disorder with them. It doesn’t hurt to ask, and it may just save your child from additional suffering. The sooner you begin asking questions, the sooner you may see a change in your child’s behavior, grades, and more importantly, their health.