Information on Obstructive Sleep
Apnea and the Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD Child
Inadequate sleep can make a child or an adult moody, more
impulsive and less able to concentrate. Sleep deprivation makes
learning difficult. Chronic poor sleep results in irritability,
frustration, difficulties with focused attention and difficulty
controlling impulses and emotions.
The common obstructive sleep apnea symptom list is very similar
to symptoms that can earn the child or adult an Attention Deficit
Disorder ADHD diagnosis.
Sleep laboratory research shows that some - and possibly a
great many - people are mislabeled with Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD when the real problem is chronic sleep deprivation caused by
obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia and other related sleep
disorders.
With obstructive sleep apnea, a person momentarily stops
breathing during the night do to obstructions. Enlarged tonsils
and adenoids are the main causes of obstructive sleep apnea in the
child. Obstructive sleep apnea is usually accompanied by snoring.
When the airway closes and breathing stops, and the child or
adult wakes up to open the airway. Once normal breathing is
restored, the person falls asleep only to repeat the cycle
throughout the night. Though the person may not even be aware of
these repeated awakenings during the night, the brief arousals
prevent the person from reaching the deep stages of sleep needed
for restore and replenish the body.
This halted breathing can last only a few seconds or up to one
minute, can happen a few times each night or as many as hundreds
of times each night. The typical frequency of waking episodes is
between 10 and 60 but in most cases, the person is unaware of it
their sleep time disturbance.
The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates at least 2 percent
of children have sleep apnea. While the lack of sleep makes adults
lethargic, it often has the opposite affect on a child, as any
parent of an overtired toddler can attest. Tired children become
wired with short attention spans and even shorter fuses.
Snoring, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, irritability,
anxiety, depression, morning headaches, decreased academic
performance, oppositional behavior, restlessness and excessive
daytime sleepiness are common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
The journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics published a
study last year where researchers found "a definite association
between daytime behavior issues and sleep disorders ... ."
If Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD symptoms or other behavior
problems are present, When children are identified with
symptoms
of Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD, parents should explore the
child's sleeping habits to determine if interrupted sleep might be
responsible for the symptoms.
Poor sleep patterns are a common feature of Attention Deficit
Disorder so it can be difficult to determine whether interrupted
sleep is the cause or the result of Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD. Regardless, by addressing the sleep issues, the child’s
behavior and school performance can improve dramatically.
The standard treatment protocol for Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD - high powered
amphetamines like Ritalin, Adderall and
Concerta - will awake up the groggy child or adult but can make
problems worse since these medications often interrupt normal
sleep patterns.
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