Study: Grabbing Z’s can be tough for kids with ADHD

A new study shows certain medications for kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder can cause sleeping problems.

“ADHD is a developmental disorder seen in approximately one in 9 of our youth,” said DeAnn Davies with early-childhood outreach for Summit Health Care. “That equates to 6.4 million youth in U.S.”

The study, which indicates stimulant medication can lead to problems sleeping, complicates the question parents face…drugs or no drugs.

“As a developmental specialist I know that drugs are effective with some children and not for others,” Davies said. “You really have to play to detective and figure it out. This takes time.”

A child can have some hyperactivity and not have ADHD, she said. There is nothing wrong with children just being rambunctious and rowdy.

“Because your child is inattentive in the classroom, and an educator suggests ADHD…that’s not enough,” Davies said.

What can be problematic is when a child shows signs for more than six months, she said. With symptoms that appear on a continual basis at home, in school, with care providers and in social settings.

“So if a child has inattention or hyperactivity and (poor) impulse control,” Davies said. “And they’re unable to follow through with tasks or focus on work, that can be problematic.”

Sit down with your child’s physician then get a referral for a developmental pediatrician or neuro-developmental psychologist or someone who can do further evaluation. Then have a complete and honest discussion about the history of the child.

“You always want to say what happened to the child, rather than what’s wrong with the child,” said Davies. “Be honest with your child’s physician and your pediatric team. They need to understand the whole picture.”

Many times symptoms can present like ADHD and be some other issue, she said. For example, the behavior could be caused by some earlier trauma resulting in some form of Post-traumatic stress disorder.

“If you have diabetes and we give you insulin, that treats your symptoms of the diabetes,” she said. “If you don’t have diabetes and we give you insulin, it’s probably not going to be the right treatment for the right issue.”

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