Frenzied and restless behavior in a teenage son or daughter may signal they need more pillow time.
Teens do not exhibit the same signs of sleepiness as adults, and therefore distracted or overexcited behavior caused by fragmented sleep may masquerade as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, said Dr. Robert Meny, a sleep specialist at the Sleep Center at Franklin Square in Baltimore City.
“A tired child is an irritable, hyper child,” he said, whereas adults tend to be more subdued when they are sleepy.
ADHD is identified based on behavioral issues, rather than blood tests so doctors should consider sleep patterns when diagnosing patients, Meny said.
“If a 10-year-old diagnosed with ADHD takes an hour to fall asleep, that?s too long. And something can be done tofix that,” he said.
The National Institute of Mental Health characterizes ADHD in children as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that affects school performance, social interactions and behavior at home.
An estimated 2 million children between the ages 5 and 17 in the United States have ADHD.
Meny estimated that 10 percent to 20 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD actually have sleep apnea, a disorder that disrupts sleep by causing sufferers to stop breathing for up to a minute, several times a night.
Chronic sleep loss remains a problem among teenagers, but doctors should be cautious when changing a diagnosis from ADHD to a sleep disorder, said Dr. Mairav Cohen-Zion, a sleep specialist at the University of California, San Diego. “You have to be careful because ADHD is a clinical condition, in which you have to meet multiple criteria, not just not being able to concentrate. Sleep loss, which is very common among teenagers, is a problem and may come along with ADHD.”
“… When you look at children with ADHD, they tend to be more active during their sleep. Not every child with ADHD needs a sleep study, but if he or she is snoring seven nights a week, I think he or she deserves one.”
IF YOU GO
» What: Sleep seminar
» When: 6 p.m. Tuesday and March 14
» Where: Crawford Conference Room, Franklin Square Hospital, 9000 Franklin Square Drive, Baltimore
» Cost: Free
» For more information: 443-777-7900
