Miya Pearson
Children with ADHD often experience sleep problems, with up to 70% of children with the condition suffering from some form of sleep disruption. This can be due to medical conditions or behavioural issues.
Children with ADHD may struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, and they may resist bedtime. They are also at higher risk of certain sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, snoring, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.
There are several strategies that can help children with ADHD sleep better. These include:
- Developing a bedtime ritual or routine
- Keeping bedtime and wake-up times consistent
- Encouraging self-soothing techniques
- Creating a cool, dark, and quiet sleep environment
- Limiting caffeine intake
- Charting the child's progress and offering praise or rewards
- Addressing any underlying medical issues, such as allergies, asthma, or pain
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevalence of sleep problems in children with ADHD | 30-74.6% |
| Prevalence of sleep problems in children with ADHD (other source) | 50-95% |
| Prevalence of sleep problems in children with ADHD (other source) | 70% |
| Prevalence of sleep problems in children with ADHD (other source) | 70% |
| Prevalence of sleep problems in children with ADHD (other source) | 50-75% |
| Prevalence of sleep problems in children with ADHD (other source) | 25-50% |
| Prevalence of sleep problems in parents of children with ADHD | Higher |
| Sleep problems in children with ADHD | Bedtime resistance, bedtime anxiety, insomnia, delayed sleep, specific sleep routines |
| Sleep disorders in children with ADHD | Sleep apnea, snoring, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, circadian rhythm sleep disorders |
| Sleep problems in parents of children with ADHD | Depression, anxiety, stress, higher likelihood of being late for work |
| Solutions to sleep problems in children with ADHD | Consistent bedtime routine, limit screen time, limit caffeine, white noise, exercise, melatonin, cognitive behavioural therapy, medication |
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What You'll Learn
- Children with ADHD may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or resist bedtime altogether
- Sleep problems in children with ADHD can be caused by behavioural issues or medical conditions
- Strategies to help children with ADHD sleep include addressing their needs before bed, reducing anxiety and dependence on caregivers, and establishing a healthy sleep environment
- Children with ADHD are at a higher risk of certain sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy
- Sleep problems can worsen ADHD symptoms, and vice versa, creating a challenging cycle for children and their caregivers
Children with ADHD may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or resist bedtime altogether
Behavioural Sleep Problems
Behavioural sleep problems in children with ADHD are similar to those experienced by other children. Examples include:
- Not being willing to go to bed: the child stalls or refuses to go to sleep.
- Being anxious at night: the child may worry about being alone in bed, or about the dark. They may also worry about things that happened during the day.
- Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder: the child goes to bed later and sleeps in later in the morning.
- Insomnia: the child cannot get enough sleep and may find it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early in the morning.
- Sleep associations: the child may need the presence of a parent or an object, like a TV, to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Impact of Behavioural Sleep Problems
Moderate to serious sleep problems in children with ADHD are associated with a lower quality of life and can cause difficulties in daily functioning. For example, lack of sleep can make it even harder for children with ADHD to concentrate. Sleep issues can also cause irritability and restlessness, and increase the risk of depression and anxiety in caregivers.
Causes of Behavioural Sleep Problems
There are several possible causes of behavioural sleep problems in children with ADHD:
- Medication: stimulants used to treat ADHD can cause insomnia as a side effect.
- Conduct difficulties, anxiety and depression: children with ADHD are at greater risk of these problems, which can disturb sleep.
- Signals in the brain: ADHD-related sleep problems may be caused by impaired arousal, alertness, and regulation circuits in the brain.
- Lower melatonin production: melatonin is a hormone that helps bring on sleep, and children with ADHD may produce less of it.
Strategies for Improving Sleep
There are several strategies that may help children with ADHD sleep better:
- Establish a bedtime routine: keep the same order of activities before bed each night to help your child wind down.
- Limit screen time: turn off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
- Limit caffeine: curb drinks with caffeine, especially in the second half of the day.
- Try white noise: soft, constant noise from a white noise machine can help your child fall asleep.
- Encourage exercise: physical activity during the day can help your child sleep more restfully at night.
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Sleep problems in children with ADHD can be caused by behavioural issues or medical conditions
Behavioural Issues
Children with ADHD may find it hard to get to sleep at night or stay asleep through the night. Behavioural sleep problems in children with ADHD are similar to those of any other child and may include:
- Not being willing to go to bed: the child stalls or refuses to go to sleep at night.
- Being anxious at night: the child may worry about being alone in bed, or about the dark. They may also worry about things that happened during the day.
- Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder: the child goes to bed later and sleeps in later in the morning.
- Insomnia: the child cannot get enough sleep and may find it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up early.
- Sleep associations: the child may need the presence of a parent or an object, like a TV, to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Medical Conditions
Children with ADHD are at a higher risk of a variety of sleep disorders, including:
- Obstructive sleep apnoea: the throat closes during sleep and stops breathing for a brief moment, disrupting sleep.
- Restless legs syndrome: the child feels discomfort in their legs and has a strong desire to move them, making it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Periodic limb movement disorder: the child moves their legs repeatedly during the night and finds it hard to control this.
- Sleep-disordered breathing: this includes snoring and sleep apnea, which leads to disturbed sleep and daytime sleepiness.
Impact of Sleep Problems
Moderate to serious sleep problems in children with ADHD are linked to many issues, including:
- Difficulty functioning during the day: lack of sleep can make it hard to concentrate, which children with ADHD often struggle with.
- Irritability and restlessness: it's common to be grumpy, tired, and have behavioural issues when you don't get enough sleep.
- Missed school days: children with ADHD who don't sleep well might not go to school as much as they need to because they can't get up in the morning.
- Higher likelihood of depression and anxiety in caregivers: caregivers of children with ADHD who struggle with sleep are more likely to deal with mental health issues and stress.
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Strategies to help children with ADHD sleep include addressing their needs before bed, reducing anxiety and dependence on caregivers, and establishing a healthy sleep environment
Sleep is crucial for a child's physical development, cognitive growth, emotional regulation, attention, behaviour, metabolism, and immune function. Unfortunately, sleep problems are more common in children with ADHD. The good news is that there are many strategies that can help children with ADHD sleep better.
Addressing their needs before bed
It is important to establish a bedtime routine and healthy sleep hygiene practices. This includes being consistent in the activities your child does in the hour or two before bedtime. For example, keeping the same order of things: bath, pyjamas, brushing teeth, books, quiet music, lights off, etc. This helps their body know what to expect and understand it’s “wind down” time. It is also important to shut down screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime and limit caffeine intake.
Reducing anxiety and dependence on caregivers
Some children feel dependent on their parents or caregivers to fall asleep. They may want a caregiver to rock them to sleep or lie next to them. They may also use delay tactics to keep their caregiver around for longer. This is called separation anxiety. To reduce anxiety around sleep, try installing a night light, giving the child a comfort object, such as a stuffed toy, and teaching them relaxation techniques.
Establishing a healthy sleep environment
Create an environment for sleep that is calm, cool, and quiet. Allow the child to help with this, as they can tell adults what makes them feel comfortable and safe. This may mean moving objects around so that they do not cast scary shadows, moving the bed to another place in the room, letting the child choose their own bedding or pyjamas, and removing things that they find distracting, such as ticking clocks or screens.
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Children with ADHD are at a higher risk of certain sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy
Sleep apnea is a breathing problem during sleep that disrupts sleep. It happens when the throat closes during sleep and stops breathing for a brief moment. Sleep apnea affects up to one-third of patients with ADHD.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that makes a child's legs uncomfortable. They often move their legs either while falling asleep or during sleep to relieve the feeling. RLS occurs in almost 50% of people with ADHD. Children with both ADHD and RLS tend to spend longer in the lighter stages of sleep, which is less restorative.
Narcolepsy is a disorder that makes people feel overwhelmingly sleepy during the day and fall asleep suddenly. Adults with narcolepsy are twice as likely to have experienced ADHD symptoms as children. Studies show that narcolepsy may be more common in people with ADHD than those without.
Other sleep disorders that children with ADHD are more likely to experience include circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, and periodic limb movement disorder.
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Sleep problems can worsen ADHD symptoms, and vice versa, creating a challenging cycle for children and their caregivers
Sleep problems and ADHD symptoms can create a challenging cycle for children and their caregivers. Sleep disturbances are common in children with ADHD, with studies suggesting that 50-95% of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD, experience sleep difficulties. This bidirectional relationship means that hyperactivity may cause sleeplessness, and inadequate sleep can exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
Impact on Children
Sleep problems in children with ADHD can manifest in various forms, including bedtime resistance, bedtime anxiety, insomnia, delayed sleep, and specific sleep routines. These issues tend to occur more frequently and severely in children with ADHD, negatively impacting their quality of life.
Inadequate sleep can worsen ADHD symptoms such as difficulty processing information. It can also lead to increased irritability and restlessness, higher BMI, and difficulty functioning during the day. Additionally, children with ADHD who struggle with sleep are more likely to miss school, further disrupting their education and development.
Impact on Caregivers
The cycle of sleep problems and ADHD symptoms can also take a toll on caregivers. Caregivers of children with ADHD and sleep issues are more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as increased stress levels. They may also have difficulty managing their own sleep and work routines due to the demands of caring for a child with sleep disturbances.
Breaking the Cycle
To break this challenging cycle, it is essential to address both the sleep problems and the ADHD symptoms. Establishing healthy sleep habits and routines can significantly improve sleep quality and overall functioning in children with ADHD. This includes maintaining a consistent bedtime routine, limiting screen time before bed, and creating a calm and relaxing sleep environment.
Additionally, certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy, are more prevalent in children with ADHD and can contribute to sleep disturbances. Addressing these underlying conditions with the help of a healthcare professional can be an important part of improving sleep and managing ADHD symptoms.
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Frequently asked questions
ADHD can cause difficulty sleeping. Sleep disturbances are common in children with ADHD. Hyperactivity may cause sleeplessness, and sleeplessness appears to exacerbate ADHD symptoms. The relationship between ADHD symptoms and sleep problems can create a challenging cycle for children and their parents or caregivers.
Insomnia in children with ADHD may be caused by poor sleep hygiene, caregiver fatigue, mental health conditions, or other medical conditions.
There are many ways to help children with ADHD sleep better. These include addressing their needs before bed, reducing anxiety and dependence on caregivers, establishing a healthy sleep environment, maintaining a consistent routine, and implementing good sleep hygiene.
Children with ADHD are more likely to experience sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.
