Sleep Apnea and ADHD symptoms

[JRC24]

Before getting the official ADHD diagnosis I decided to take my 5 yo girl to ENT to rule out hearing issues because of the number of ear infections she has had and the fact she had tubes. Well I found out that childhood sleep apnea could cause behavioral issues that cause a child to meet DSM 5 diagnosis for ADHD. My little one snores and sleeps restlessly so we can get a sleep study or get her tonsils and adenoids removed because that is the ultimate solution. Personally I think she may also have ADHD. Here is a really good scholarly article on what I am talking about. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Has anyone else here had a sleep apnea diagnosis for their child and they also have ADHD?

[Klmamma]

Yes, same age as well. Allergy and asthma meds can also mimic ADHD symtpoms. My son had his tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes inserted and has been doing so much better. I do still think he has mild ADHD but it's not nearly as bad as before. The ENT also said to give it 6 months to see improvements in his overall health and demeanor.

[JRC24 in reply to Klmamma]

I hope you see a dramatic change. This article did the study and seen the biggest change at one year.

[Klmamma in reply to JRC24]

My son is also on steroids and allergy meds on a regular basis so we will not medicate him even if his eval does come back as having ADHD. Theres no way to know for sure it's not his asthma meds causing the behavioral issues.

[JRC24 in reply to Klmamma]

So I took my 5 yo girl to her primary care doc. The only thing we had was papers filled out by me and her teacher. She was given medication. I haven’t given it to her yet. I’m surprised there isn’t a further evaluation. I don’t really want to have her be labeled either because she wants to be an Army pilot. I know she is only five but is that is something that could effect her possible career choices then I kinda don’t want her to be labeled. I’m surprised she didn’t have a further evaluation.

[Klmamma in reply to JRC24]

That's bullshit. Take her to a psychiatrist. They will do a full 4 hour long evaluation on IQ, short term memory, long term memory, check for any further learning disabilities. Ours also took a full medical history, sent us to a nutritionist, and an eye dr. They also will go watch her at school themselves. We have been in OT and Social Skills for two years and have just recently started CBT and the Mightier program. I personally do not think medication is the only option like so many others do. They're little and the mind is a beautiful thing. I've seen major changes in my son over the last two years and I'll keep trudging along with therapy. He is in Kindergarten but not struggling academically he seems to be struggling some socially. We haven't had our first conference yet. I most likely have ADHD as well and I am a high functioning and successful adult. I recognize now skills I taught myself when younger to cope with my lack of attention and I do see where my emotions have held me back but if I'd had behavioral therapy as a child I think I'd have been better off.

I have no intention of pushing a lifetime of meds onto my son. He is very intelligent and I beleive he can learn to live with his natural state. How can he learn to control himself when meds take him out of the natural state he will live in the rest of his life? 1 in 7 kids now have ADHD which seems crazy to me. At this point I think we are diagnosing a personality trait and expecting robots.

[JRC24 in reply to Klmamma]

That makes sense. My husband was diagnosed as a child with ADHD and eventually he refused to take his medication. He is a successful adult. He has social stuff that is not typical but he has the right people in his life, and a career that allows for this personality type so it doesn’t matter. I do agree that it’s a personality. My brother and sister were also diagnosed and the more I read the more I’m like, wow that is me. But I was never hyperactive so maybe no one thought about me having any issues. I did have to do special ed math and still struggle in that area. I want her to blossom the way she is meant to be. She has a loving personality and would sing her way through life is that was acceptable.

[Klmamma in reply to JRC24]

I think, in general, girls are more ADD than ADHD. I have my moments of both though. If he had the severe type of ADHD some of my friends kids have where they still run into traffic at the age of 7, I probably would medicate him. I just don't think he needs it yet. As he gets older I would feel more comfortable putting it out there for him as an option when he can manage the meds and side effects better on his own.

[RichSeitzOceanNJ in reply to Klmamma]

It sounds like you area researcher and activist. Please google Pax GBG and Dr. Dennis Embry. Also try Captain Joseph Hibbeln. They have a few things you may be interested in pursuing, especially introducing your school/teachers to Pax.

[Klmamma in reply to RichSeitzOceanNJ]

I will. Thank you. I just find reading and listening to Russell Barkely refer to my son as demented and beyond reproach; offensive, disheartening and unhelpful. I do realize meds have their place at times but I don't think Im doing my son any favors by teaching him he has to take meds to be liked or to live. I plan to try nuerofeedback therapy in the future as well. If brain game puzzles can help alzheimers than therapy can help my son. If all else fails I will try meds, but not until I've exhausted every other Avenue first.

[Klmamma in reply to Klmamma]

He's also wrong about social skills classes, the help IMMENSELY

[Walter2010]

Thanks for the link and info on sleep. We have an appt. This month.

[jmhunter1014]

My son, 8, didn't have apnea, but did have his adenoids removed & a balloon sinuplasty (like an angioplasty in the heart, but in the sinuses - they inflate a tiny balloon inside the sinuses to stretch them, which allows for better drainage) when he was 4, due to chronic sinus/ear infections. He also snored quite a bit and slept restlessly before his surgery; he had speech development issues that landed him on an IEP at 3 years old, which cleared up after the procedure. It did not, unfortunately, fix his ADHD/borderline ODD issues. I wish you both all the best in your journey.

[JRC24 in reply to jmhunter1014]

It could take up to a year for a change in behavior to be seen. Best wishes for you both

[jmhunter1014 in reply to JRC24]

Well it's been 4 years since his surgery, so I think we're well beyond that. 😊 Thanks though!

[JRC24 in reply to jmhunter1014]

My husband had ADHD and he has grown into a very successful man. Praying you will have the same outcome 😊

[Sofi515]

I'm so glad that this information is getting out more to the public, and it seems like there are more articles bringing awareness to this. My son was diagnosed with ADHD 4 years ago, and it wasn't until this past summer that I took him to see an ENT. We found out he had some bad allergies to grass pollen which were really impacting his breathing. That congestion did have an impact on his sleeping, and that definitely led him to other symptoms that looked like ADHD. He is doing allergy shots now and there has been an improvement already. He can run a lot more, first of all. But getting that next level of exercise has helped his sleep and has helped him overall. It is definitely worth it to rule out physical problems the kids might be having before taking all the myriad of steps surrounding ADHD and related treatments and therapies. There are so many difficulties that look like ADHD and are not, or that exaggerate the symptoms these kids have. I'm just glad this information is getting out more and more. I wish we had done it before 4 years passed, but we know now and it's already helping him.