{"id":5474,"date":"2020-04-17T12:05:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T10:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=5474"},"modified":"2021-05-01T15:37:36","modified_gmt":"2021-05-01T13:37:36","slug":"adhd-and-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/adhd-and-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"ADHD and Sleep Issues: How Closely Are They Related?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (<\/span>ADHD<\/span><\/a>) becomes more prevalent than was first believed, it becomes essential to know the symptoms. Hyperactive children classified as bad, naughty, lazy, or even violent usually remain undiagnosed for a long time. <\/span>ADHD and sleep<\/span> issues may not only be related, but one might mask the symptoms of the other, making it unclear if the child should be brought to a specialist.<\/span><\/p>\n

The previous, outdated name, attention deficit disorder (ADD)\u2014with symptoms such as disorganization, lack of focus, and forgetfulness\u2014has been replaced by the official term ADHD. Today, there\u2019s no difference between <\/span>ADHD vs. ADD<\/span>; there\u2019s only ADHD. However, sleep problems are also common in children with other developmental disorders, such as <\/span>autism<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is ADHD a Disability?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Even Hippocrates identified ADHD as a condition. He described patients who had accelerated responses to sensory perceptions but with little consistency, as their emotions would quickly transition into another state. However, Hippocrates attributed this to \u201cthe supremacy of fire over water.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, ADHD is defined as a neurodevelopmental disease that affects about 5% of people, both children and adults. The affected children experienc\u0435 inattention, hyperactivity, forgetfulness, poor impulse control, or impulsivity. Furthermore, <\/span>ADHD and sleep problems<\/span> often go together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children with ADHD seem to not listen, make trouble more often, have difficulty keeping their attention on single tasks, struggle following instructions, avoid mental effort for an extended period, lose things, and become easily distracted, which can lead to forgetfulness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Official data show that ADHD can affect 3%\u20134% of children in early school age, but sometimes the symptoms appear much earlier. When we\u2019re talking about <\/span>ADHD, insomnia<\/span> could be a single symptom. Usually, among the first symptoms are pronounced impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and an inability to concentrate or show control.<\/span><\/p>\n

The condition is more common in boys than in girls. Since boys usually exert more wild behavior, this is the reason the diagnosis is sometimes delayed. With <\/span>ADHD, trouble sleeping<\/span> can also include inadequate and unregulated sleep, irritability and excessive impulsivity, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and intolerance to noise, light, and temperature changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s assumed that <\/span>ADHD in children<\/span> has a familial etiology and neurological mechanisms. These are associated with a developmental delay in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, as well as the accelerated development of the motor cortex. This entirely coincides with the main symptoms of ADHD, hyperactivity and attention deficiency, and can probably explain why those with ADHD also have insomnia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can Lack of Sleep Cause ADHD Symptoms?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Usually, parents start to see the first <\/span>symptoms of ADHD<\/span> when their children reach school. These symptoms aren\u2019t the result of low intelligence in the children, but rather of their inability to work and keep their concentration. Secondary symptoms include struggles with memorization due to a lack of attention, trouble regulating emotions, and poor self-control. These can lead to problems with communication and understanding, as well as complicated relationships with family and peers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHD and sleep disorders<\/span> are another category of symptoms. Last but not least, children with ADHD experience a lack of confidence and a constant feeling of failure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ADHD is a chronic disease, and between 10% and 60% of affected children continue to exhibit symptoms as adults. <\/span>ADHD symptoms in adults<\/span>, however, can be mild. Interestingly, the prolonged course of <\/span>ADHD and sleep problems in adults<\/span> can continue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Proper, timely diagnosis and effective treatment will allow your child to be happy and develop their potential at school and in life. Conversely, undiagnosed and untreated conditions may lead to lower adaptability to different social environments, as well as dysfunctional relationships, less success in school, and risky behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep disorders and ADHD<\/span> are linked in both children and adults. In recent years, many parents have reported that their children with ADHD also suffer sleep problems, but<\/span> few studies<\/span><\/a> have examined the possible link between them. Most of these sleep disorders include <\/span>insomnia<\/span>, <\/span>sleep deprivation<\/span>, <\/span>bruxism<\/span>, restless legs syndrome, <\/span>obstructive sleep apnea<\/span>, <\/span>somnambulism<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>circadian rhythm disorders<\/span><\/a>, etc. As a note on <\/span>ADHD and sleep patterns<\/span>, children are more likely to experience night terrors than adults.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was demonstrated that there\u2019s also a behavioral component. As such, there may be <\/span>mental symptoms<\/span>, such as anxiety or <\/span>depression<\/span>, that can disturb sleep. Sometimes, there are no real problems with sleep other than a refusal to sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep Problems and ADHD<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"ADHD<\/p>\n

Children with ADHD often have trouble falling asleep, and when they do sleep, they move around a lot\u2014walking, talking, etc. The time it takes a child to fall asleep varies from two to three hours for a child with ADHD to only about 40 minutes for a child without the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep problems can be related to ADHD in one of four ways:<\/span><\/p>\n