ADD ADHD & The Sleep Connection
WRITTEN BY Angela Goldwaite, RDAEF2
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD?
Have you wondered if you have symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
You may be surprised to learn that the symptoms associated with ADD & ADHD are many of the exact same symptoms associated with poor sleep quality.
When a person doesn’t get a restful and restorative night sleep, repeatedly each night, the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and lack of quality sleep are virtually indistinguishable from one another!
- Procrastination
- Forgetfulness
- A propensity to lose things
- Inability to pay attention consistently[1]
What is causing these people to get a poor night sleep?
Another study found that
“50% of children with ADHD had signs of sleep disordered breathing.”[4]
In fact, after studying 11,000 children, Dr. Karen Bonuk found that:
sleep disordered breathing increases the risk of being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD by 50%!
Why?
High quality sleep is dependent upon the ability to breathe well throughout the night. If a person’s craniofacial structure (the structure of their head and face) is not fully developed, it can lead to sleep disordered breathing, obstructive sleep apnea and symptoms that look like ADD/ADHD. Studies have suggested that treating sleep problems in children and adults with ADHD may improve symptoms and quality of life.[5]
Dr. Darryl Azouz is a sleep and breathing specialist here in Citrus Heights. He has discovered in his advanced training, knowledge that many in the medical profession haven’t learned yet. Many have overlooked that underdeveloped dental arches have an immense impact on airway development and therefore are a large contributor to sleep and breathing disorders.
When we can restore the dental arch size and contour to its natural, full shape, it opens up the airway and therefore increases the air volume available during the day and while asleep. This is ESSENTIAL to getting a restful and restorative night of sleep…. Every night…. Which may be key in preventing the issues linked to ADHD and sleep problems, including:
- higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse
- lower performance at school or work
- intellectual impairment
- mood disorders
Call Airway, Sleep and TMJ Solutions today for a complimentary consultation to find out if your or your child’s airway may be underdeveloped. Our FDA approved, non-surgical, drug-free, pain-free approach can help permanently treat and relieve symptoms that you or your physician may never have associated with your mouth!
[1] https://www.additudemag.com/symptoms-of-insomnia/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16676784/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17118097/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15124720/
[5] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/adhd-and-sleep