Sleep Problems Accompany ADHD

A team from the Centre for Community Child Health in Parkville, Australia, has conducted a study which found a strong correlation between ADHD and sleep problems in children. The team studied 239 schoolchildren with ADHD and their families to determine the prevalence of sleep problems and their effects.

"Sleep problems affected 175 (73.3 percent) of the children, with a 28.5 percent prevalence of mild sleep problems and 44.8 percent prevalence of moderate or severe sleep problems. Some of the most commonly occurring sleep patterns were difficulty falling asleep, resisting going to bed and tiredness on waking."

About half the parents in the study reported that their children had trouble sleeping, felt tired waking up, or had nightmares. Source: PsychCentral

Sleep problems can also lead to inactivity and childhood obesity. Learn more from a blog post at Weight Loss Central.

Tonsil Removal Helps ADHD in Some Kids

Recent studies are beginning to find an unusual link between ADHD in young children and their tonsils. More specifically, of kids who have been diagnosed with ADHD and had their tonsils removed, about half see diminished ADHD symptoms; or the symptoms disappear altogether.

"In one recent study, at the University of Michigan, 22 children with ADHD and sleep-disordered breathing had adenotonsillectomies [their tonsils removed]. After one year, 11 no longer battled ADHD."

The link seems to be between the tonsils and adenoid, and a child's sleep patterns. The tonsils and adenoid can partially block a child's airway when he lies down. The result is disturbed sleep patterns, and in some children (especially young children) lack of sleep causes hyperactivity and acting out that often gets worse the longer the child is sleep deprived. Read more at AZFamily.com.

Outdoor education programs offer ways for children to learn new skills while learning to live with their ADHD. Find a program at Boot-Camps-Info.com.

Improved Sleep for Children with ADHD

Ridha Joober, MD, and Reut Gruber, PHD, both of Douglas Mental Health University Institute at McGill University in Montreal, Canada have completed a first-of-its-kind study on sleep patterns of children with ADHD. They found that the medication methylphenidate helps improve the quality of sleep in ADHD-diagnosed children with poor sleep patterns.

''Children with low sleep efficiency might improve performance following the administration of MPH as it increases their arousal level to a moderate level, which is presumed to facilitate vigilance performance,' wrote Joober and Gruber."

The study focused on 37 children between six and 12 years old, who were divided into two groups based on their sleep patterns. Joober and Gruber believe more testing is in order, but that the initial results are promising. Sleep problems are common in children diagnosed with ADHD. Read more at Huliq.com.

Residential schools specialize in programs to help kids with learning disorders, emotional issues, or behavioral problems. Find one at TeenBoardingSchools.com.