Getting to the root cause of a child’s behavioral issues is never an easy feat; It is a lot quicker to turn him/her in and get them placed on pills that will make them ‘content and relaxed’ for the rest of their lives. That being said, it seems many of those who need medicine for this kind of thing are living with something they’re not expecting at all.
ADHD and sleep problems, in general, are things that are highly correlated. Sleep apnea when diagnosed properly can help get rid of the issue entirely. Some children who are diagnosed as having ADHD or something else of the sort could easily be misdiagnosed by their GP. While not necessarily what you’d expect, being aware of this is a big deal.
Child Mind wrote as follows in regards:
Sleep disorders are rare in children, notes David Anderson, senior director of the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute, so it is not likely that many kids have sleep disorders mistaken for ADHD, or both ADHD and a sleep disorder. But it is the case that not getting enough sleep (even if your child doesn’t qualify for a sleep disorder) can cause or worsen ADHD symptoms. Hence solving sleep issues can help reduce symptoms.
Sleep disorders are rare in children, notes David Anderson, senior director of the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute, so it is not likely that many kids have sleep disorders mistaken for ADHD, or both ADHD and a sleep disorder. But it is the case that not getting enough sleep (even if your child doesn’t qualify for a sleep disorder) can cause or worsen ADHD symptoms. Hence solving sleep issues can help reduce symptoms.
Besides sleep issues, other causes could include depression, trauma, and anxiety, all of which can present similar symptoms and, not incidentally, cause a child to be unable to sleep. Looking at symptoms like hyperactivity, distractibility, and inattention in the context of all of a child’s symptoms is key to identifying the source.
According to MSU Today, at least 900,000 of the over 4 million children diagnosed in recent times with ADHD have been misdiagnosed. Most of those misdiagnoses stem from children who actually just have some kind of sleep disorder. Sleep disorders come in a wide variety and could include things like sleep apnea, nightmares/terrors, restless leg syndrome, and of course, insomnia.
If you are wondering whether or not your child has ADHD or a sleep disorder pay attention to his or her sleeping schedule, do not allow their breathing to go unnoticed, and push him/her to exercise more. Getting to know your kid(s) and how they react to things is a very important means of following the progression of things like this. To learn more on the topic please check out the video below. Do you know anyone who may have been misdiagnosed?