Healthology - September 23, 2005
Could this type of behavior, the parents wonder, mean that their child
has something as serious as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD)? Before she answers, Owens is quick to ask them a question she
fears too few are
posing: "How well is your child sleeping?"
In fact, the same symptoms that characterize ADHD often overlap with the
type of problems that result from a lack of sleep, according to various
studies. Although doctors can usually separate the two, Owens warns that
mood and
behavioral changes caused by sleepless nights might sometimes be mistaken
for ADHD.
"In the back of everyone's mind should be whether these symptoms are
related to sleep problems," says Owens, a pediatrician at Rhode Island
Hospital in Providence.
How to Spot a Sleep Disorder A thorough look at your child's sleep
behavior can help determine whether the problem is simply a lack of rest.
Excessive daytime sleepiness is often the clearest indication.
Snoring is another key warning sign. In a recent study, researchers at
the University of Michigan found that loud snoring helped predict which
children would end up hyperactive several years later.
"Snoring is a major symptom of a sleep apnea," says Owens, referring to
one of the main sleep disorders that children face. After several
restless nights, children may demonstrate the same hyperactivity that kids
with ADHD show.
Still, trying to distinguish sleep disorders from attention deficit ones
can prove complicated. Not only are the symptoms very close, there is the
chance that ADHD may interfere with sleep as well.
Studies suggest that children with attention deficit disorders are
naturally sleepier than healthy kids, possibly due to overactive minds
that keep them stirring at night. This could partly explain why some
become hyperactive—such
behavior is the body's way of adapting to a lack of sleep, Owen explains.
Catching Some Zzz's Regardless of the ultimate cause, sleep problems
can lead to irritability, a lack of focus and trouble in school. And if it
turns out that your child does have ADHD, the wide use of stimulant
medications may
create its own sleep problems.
Owens says that newer drugs, such as Strattera, are less likely
to interfere with sleep than Ritalin and the rest. But some children still
complain of tiredness and irritability after taking Strattera, according
to the Food and Drug Administration.
Whether a child's lack of sleep is from ADHD, medications or sleep apnea,
getting a good night's rest is crucial. A lack of sleep can either
exacerbate ADHD symptoms or cause problems that seem just as bad.
The first step, Owen says, is for parents and doctors to discuss a
child's sleep behavior. If your child is waking often in the night or
having trouble going to sleep, there are simple steps you can take.
Owens recommends the basics: A regular bed time No caffeine or running
around shortly before bed. A relaxing bedtime environment, meaning no
television "Kids who have television sets in their rooms have more
trouble going to sleep,"
says Owens. Reading a bedtime story instead, she adds, can prove better
for the child and for mom and dad as well.
"Insomnia
in children frequently affects parents' sleep and stress," says Owens.
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