Still, trying to distinguish sleep disorders from attention deficit ones can prove complicated. Not only are the symptoms very close, there is the chance that ADHD may interfere with sleep as well.
Studies suggest that children with attention deficit disorders are naturally sleepier than healthy kids, possibly due to overactive minds that keep them stirring at night. This could partly explain why some become hyperactive—such behavior is the body's way of adapting to a lack of sleep, Owen explains.
Catching Some Zzz's
Regardless of the ultimate cause, sleep problems can lead to irritability, a lack of focus and trouble in school. And if it turns out that your child does have ADHD, the wide use of stimulant medications may create its own sleep problems.
Owens says that newer drugs, such as Strattera, are less likely to interfere with sleep than Ritalin and the rest. But some children still complain of tiredness and irritability after taking Strattera, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Whether a child's lack of sleep is from ADHD, medications or sleep apnea, getting a good night's rest is crucial. A lack of sleep can either exacerbate ADHD symptoms or cause problems that seem just as bad.
The first step, Owen says, is for parents and doctors to discuss a child's sleep behavior. If your child is waking often in the night or having trouble going to sleep, there are simple steps you can take.
Owens recommends the basics:
- A regular bed time
- No caffeine or running around shortly before bed
- A relaxing bedtime environment, meaning no television
"Kids who have television sets in their rooms have more trouble going to sleep," says Owens. Reading a bedtime story instead, she adds, can prove better for the child and for mom and dad as well.
"Insomnia in children frequently affects parents' sleep and stress," says Owens.
