When there is "a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development," ADHD is generally diagnosed.
What's intriguing is that negative ADHD-like symptoms are comparable to those seen in people without an ADHD diagnosis who have irregular sleep schedules or don't get enough sleep. Many of the symptoms associated with the ADHD diagnosis, such as difficulty retaining focus and attention, impaired learning and/or behavioural issues, impulsivity, and reactivity, will be evident in those who have jet lag or have worked a week on the night shift.
We know that children labelled ADHD are said to have changed sleep patterns, spending more time in stage 1 sleep and lacking sleep spindles. Studies also reveal that kids diagnosed with ADHD are more sleepy during the day.
According to a study, shorter sleep duration is directly linked to oppositionality, daytime drowsiness, and inattention. While sleep restriction is linked to worse academic achievement, more sleep is linked to improved cognitive functioning and school performance.
Additionally, studies have shown a link between cognitive functioning and the severity of a sleep disorder. In a 2018 study, McGowan and Coogan discovered that impulsive conduct is correlated with a "delayed sleep onset latency".
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), disturbed breathing during sleep, and snoring (caused, for example, by enlarging adenoids) are all linked to inattention and hyperactivity, with the same link also seen in a general population without ADHD.
We also see that the intensity of sleep issues in children with ADHD is a strong indicator that they won't be able to get rid of these symptoms by the time they reach adolescence or adulthood. Click here to learn about ADHD therapy Sydney.
