Could a Sleep Disorder be Causing your ADHD?

Do you have ADHD and find it hard to settle down at night? Visit Koala Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders today to see what option are available for you. For more information, Please call us today or visit us online to book an appointment. Serving Patients From All Over the USA. Locations in Bloomington IL, Peoria – Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX and Wausau WI.

“It’s like your mind shuts down because you have to put so much effort into policing your brain.”
“I remember being in class and feeling like I was going to explode if I couldn’t get out of my seat…”
“I was annoyed and bored…I found school unmotivating…”

In the above excerpts from Today’s Parent, adults describe what it felt like to have ADHD as young children. Because it is their normal, it can be challenging for those with ADHD to describe the difficulties they face every day, and it can also be a challenge for others to understand them. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) includes a combination of problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. It is a common condition affecting 5% of children, according to the American Psychiatric Association. And while many think of ADHD as a childhood condition, it often lasts into adulthood.

While strides have been made in ADHD research, there is still so much that is unknown about the disorder. One area that is just beginning to be explored is the relationship between ADHD and sleep. Because sleep disturbances related to the disorder generally appear in late childhood, they have not received as much attention until recently. However, patients with ADHD often report difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep and waking in the morning. Additionally, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) notes that the frequency of Sleep Disordered Breathing in children with ADHD is approximately 25-30 percent compared with just 3 percent of other children. Also, up to 40% of individuals with ADHD are obese, and obesity has a strong correlation to sleep disordered breathing, especially Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious disorder, often accompanied by loud snoring, in which breathing stops and restarts repeatedly during sleep. Because OSA results in poor sleep, it impacts alertness and performance. Patients with OSA often report symptoms similar to those of ADHD, such as lack of focus, daytime sleepiness and trouble with memory. The symptoms are so similar, in fact, that Dr. Vatsal Thakkar, who is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, argues for the need to consider sleep problems as a possible cause when evaluating patients for ADHD. Dr. Thakkar is not alone in this belief. In fact, CHADD has recently suggested that since sleep disorders are often related to ADHD or may even result in a misdiagnosis of ADHD, it is vital that sleep screenings be a part of any ADHD assessment.

If you or your child have been diagnosed with ADHD, it is important to have a sleep study to rule out sleep apnea. At the Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders in City, State, Dr. Name is trained to treat OSA with a comfortable oral appliance, similar to a mouthguard. The Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders will work with your physician to obtain a diagnosis through a sleep study and will continue to work with your physician throughout treatment.

For more information contact the Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders in City, State at Phone Number or website. Dr. Name provides treatment for Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) with a comfortable oral appliance.

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