A Taiwanese study that appears in the May 1 issue of the journal Sleep has established an association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and sleep disorders. According to a May 1 article on the HealthDay News website, the researchers found the sleep disorder-ADHD connection even in children whose attention problems were relatively moderate:

The study of 281 children, aged 10 to 17, who had been diagnosed with ADHD, found that regardless of the severity of that condition, they were two to three times more likely to have short-term or lifetime issues with insomnia or nightmares than peers without ADHD. They were also more likely to experience night terrors, teeth grinding and snoring.

Treating the sleep disorder may help ease ADHD, as the conditions tend to share symptoms, say the investigators. ... In fact, lack of sleep can cause problems with attention span, behavior and performance -- hallmarks of ADHD.

A press release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reported that sleep disorders in children with ADHD could be the result of several factors, including Internet addiction, stimulant abuse, hyperactivity, or the presence of co-occurring psychiatric disorders.

Labels: sleep, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

Posted By: Aspen/CRC