Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious, life-altering condition that affects more than 1 in 10 kids in America. Many of these children take powerful medication as treatment for the disorder, which can have risky side effects, such as anxiety and even addiction.
After more than two decades of research in sleep science, Dr. Micahel L. Gelb, DDS, MS, has made the connection that as many as two-thirds of children diagnosed with ADHD may actually be suffering from sleep disorders. His work is based on a three-year study in which he partnered with individuals from the American Association of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry (AAPMD) to find a link between ADHD and sleep disorders.
The results of the joint work revealed that a significant number of children diagnosed with ADHD “may be remedied through treating the airway, as well as identifying and improving sleep disorders,” Gelb recently told Sleep Review.
According to Gelb, a child who struggles to pay attention or is aggressive or socially withdrawn may actually be exhausted from a lack of quality sleep. Without proper rest, kids’ nervous systems cannot function properly, which particularly affects the cortex of the brain that deals with focus and attentiveness.
