ADHD and the Sleep Connection
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 8%-10% of school-age children as well as many adults.
It is much more prevalent among boys than girls-roughly three times as many.
Children and adults with ADHD have trouble focusing, often act without thinking and are hyperactive.
They may understand what's expected of them but can't seem to sit still.
Often they act impulsively.
For many children and adults with ADHD, the thought of falling asleep easily and staying asleep may just seem like a dream.
The likelihood of a sleep disorder with ADHD increases at the age of puberty and further increases with age.
Both children and adults sometimes also experience other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.
Roughly 75% of adults with ADHD symptoms also report symptoms of insomnia consisting primarily of a delay in getting to sleep.
They often complain of not being able to "turn the mind off".
Once asleep, they toss and turn and can awaken to the slightest of sounds.
Once ADHD sufferers do finally fall asleep, it can be very difficult for them to awaken.
In fact, some researchers believe the circadian clock in an adult suffering with ADHD is incorrectly set for sleep between the hours of 4 a.
m.
and noon.
Parents of children with ADHD as well as adult sufferers should consult with a doctor to rule out physical and other factors that may be affecting sleep.
However, some useful lifestyle changes include: • Maintaining a constant daily routine.
It's especially important for children with ADHD to have the same wake, meals and activities, and sleep times every day.
• Watching your diet.
It's very important to eliminate caffeine from a child's diet.
Sugar intake should also be reduced.
• Having a hot bath before bed can also help as sleep normally occurs when the body begins to cool off after a bath.
Both children and adults with ADHD often are prescribed stimulant medications.
For some people, taking these before bedtime can actually help promote sleep because the medication works to calm the mind down.
For others, they will actually need to take the stimulants hours away from bedtime.
Sometimes the use of sleep medications can be useful, and a doctor should always be consulted before taking them.
Some ADHD sufferers have found melatonin to be helpful as it is a naturally occurring hormone that plays an important role in regulating sleep.
Melatonin controls the circadian rhythm, which is the body's internal clock that controls when a person falls asleep and wakes up.
Since Melatonin helps control sleep patterns, many parents find that it will induce sleep in their ADHD children and help to alleviate the insomnia and sleep disturbances that go along with ADHD.
As you can see there is a very clear connection between ADHD and sleep disturbances, and hopefully these tips will provide some relief.
It is much more prevalent among boys than girls-roughly three times as many.
Children and adults with ADHD have trouble focusing, often act without thinking and are hyperactive.
They may understand what's expected of them but can't seem to sit still.
Often they act impulsively.
For many children and adults with ADHD, the thought of falling asleep easily and staying asleep may just seem like a dream.
The likelihood of a sleep disorder with ADHD increases at the age of puberty and further increases with age.
Both children and adults sometimes also experience other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.
Roughly 75% of adults with ADHD symptoms also report symptoms of insomnia consisting primarily of a delay in getting to sleep.
They often complain of not being able to "turn the mind off".
Once asleep, they toss and turn and can awaken to the slightest of sounds.
Once ADHD sufferers do finally fall asleep, it can be very difficult for them to awaken.
In fact, some researchers believe the circadian clock in an adult suffering with ADHD is incorrectly set for sleep between the hours of 4 a.
m.
and noon.
Parents of children with ADHD as well as adult sufferers should consult with a doctor to rule out physical and other factors that may be affecting sleep.
However, some useful lifestyle changes include: • Maintaining a constant daily routine.
It's especially important for children with ADHD to have the same wake, meals and activities, and sleep times every day.
• Watching your diet.
It's very important to eliminate caffeine from a child's diet.
Sugar intake should also be reduced.
• Having a hot bath before bed can also help as sleep normally occurs when the body begins to cool off after a bath.
Both children and adults with ADHD often are prescribed stimulant medications.
For some people, taking these before bedtime can actually help promote sleep because the medication works to calm the mind down.
For others, they will actually need to take the stimulants hours away from bedtime.
Sometimes the use of sleep medications can be useful, and a doctor should always be consulted before taking them.
Some ADHD sufferers have found melatonin to be helpful as it is a naturally occurring hormone that plays an important role in regulating sleep.
Melatonin controls the circadian rhythm, which is the body's internal clock that controls when a person falls asleep and wakes up.
Since Melatonin helps control sleep patterns, many parents find that it will induce sleep in their ADHD children and help to alleviate the insomnia and sleep disturbances that go along with ADHD.
As you can see there is a very clear connection between ADHD and sleep disturbances, and hopefully these tips will provide some relief.
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