Sleep Apnea or ADHD?
Sleep apnea is a condition that normally effects middle-aged, overweight adults. As one ages, tissues in the back of the throat become more flaccid. When severe, the tissues collapse, shutting off the airway during sleep.
Generally, someone's spouse complains of loud snoring that keeps her awake, of frequent episodes lasting up to a minute of silence (not breathing), followed by a sudden "gasping" arousal, followed by noise from breathing or snoring. The person with sleep apnea arouses from deep sleep to lighter stages of sleep, and are not usually aware of waking up. This can happen over and over again throughout the night.
Although the person feels that he slept through the night, he awakens exhausted because of the lack of deep sleep. They also don't feel refreshed after taking a nap. Because of lack of adequate deep sleep, they have problems concentrating during the day, just as you would if you only slept for four hours.
Children can also have sleep apnea, only it's not from aging, flaccid tissues in the back of the throat but from very enlarged tonsils blocking the airway. As with adults, they will be tired during the day, have problems concentrating, and might have other symptoms related to lack of sleep, such as irritability.
Only your pediatrician or an ENT specialist can determine whether your child's tonsils are enlarged enough to possibly block the airway and cause sleep apnea. If the tonsils appear to be significantly enlarged, confirmation of sleep apnea should be determined by a sleep study before any consideration of removing the tonsils. Not every child with enlarged tonsils or with loud snoring has sleep apnea, which can only be diagnosed by a sleep study.
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Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, sleep apnea
Generally, someone's spouse complains of loud snoring that keeps her awake, of frequent episodes lasting up to a minute of silence (not breathing), followed by a sudden "gasping" arousal, followed by noise from breathing or snoring. The person with sleep apnea arouses from deep sleep to lighter stages of sleep, and are not usually aware of waking up. This can happen over and over again throughout the night.
Although the person feels that he slept through the night, he awakens exhausted because of the lack of deep sleep. They also don't feel refreshed after taking a nap. Because of lack of adequate deep sleep, they have problems concentrating during the day, just as you would if you only slept for four hours.
Children can also have sleep apnea, only it's not from aging, flaccid tissues in the back of the throat but from very enlarged tonsils blocking the airway. As with adults, they will be tired during the day, have problems concentrating, and might have other symptoms related to lack of sleep, such as irritability.
Only your pediatrician or an ENT specialist can determine whether your child's tonsils are enlarged enough to possibly block the airway and cause sleep apnea. If the tonsils appear to be significantly enlarged, confirmation of sleep apnea should be determined by a sleep study before any consideration of removing the tonsils. Not every child with enlarged tonsils or with loud snoring has sleep apnea, which can only be diagnosed by a sleep study.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, sleep apnea
12 Comments:
Mohab Hanna, M.D. Child & Adolescent Psychiatry- author of Making the Connection: A Parent's Guide to Medication in AD/HD
It is certainly true that kids with sleep difficulties will exhibit ADHD symptoms. However it is important to remember that kids with ADHD tend to have difficulties in settling down and can have difficulties in initiating sleep.
Sleep Apnea is a very specific condition that is uncommon in children. I appreciate that Dr. Sogn points out that a physical exam is warranted before any sleep studies are done. There is no reason to go around doing sleep studies on any kid who exhibits ADHD symptoms. There needs to be a specific indication for the test.
I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea 2 years ago . I mentioned the symptoms to numerous doctors since I was very young and still in school. I am 57 yrs old now and suffering from health related issues if someone would have had the foresight to check for Sleep Apnea I would have lived a happier and healthier life.
I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 2003. In 2004 I suffered
from ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) Following gall bladder surgery. After six months in the hospital and being fully rehabiliated ( learning to walk again, etc.) I had another sleep study after being home for 7 months because I had trouble wearing the CPAP mask. In 2003 the pressure on my machine was set on 12. In 2005, my pressure was lowered to 7. This was due to losing a lot of weight during my illness. Now I am on a diet to lose more and I truly hope that I won't have to wear it anymore. Yea!
Does adhd and seizures have anything in common? My son is seven years old and was diagonosed with a seizure disorder at two years of age. He is starting to show sighns of behavior problems at home, school, and on the bus. I have researched his seizure disorder and adhd. Alot of the signs and symptoms for both were similiar.Iwas just wondering about these sharing the same symptoms.
Off the topic do you know if ET intubations will increas or decrease ICP?
Hello, Ill make this real simple but its complex! Diagnosed as ADD when 5 1/2; dosed on ritalin 35 to 40 Mg daily till I was 12 1/2 because of school and severe act outs, disturbing others stuck in special classes ( Special ED for Behavioral Problems; Lists goes on, 30 now I suffer from ADD/ADHD a Mood Disorder and Severe OCD on the contamination level.. ADD/ADAH is severe with combined types, Moods pretty horible as well.....
Starting late when I was 29 going crazy from alll the anxietys from each disorder I seeked help.. Went to AMEN clinic in reston VA paid 3200.00 for extensive testing, Pet scans etc that revieled the Mood disorder, 3 types ADD/ADHD, OCD.. I was not satisfied so We went to Johns Hopkins OCD/Mood Disorder specialists Dr I wont say and he didnt believe in the ADD pet scans or knew anything about it, Now the OCD and Mood Disorder he was excellent on but we got the Bi Polar w/ rapidcycling thrown at us.. Bottom line I have taken everything Med wise for Bi Polar ( Lithium- I felt changes from first dose 300 to 600 to 900 and I got stranger then Made me completely manic hyper for three months at 1800 Mg ) Depikote 250 Mg Made me completely psychotic Violent etc etc.. Tried it twice 8 months apart, same deal each time couldnt make it at 500 and stay on it; completely Insain...... They all said ( Dr.s ) I should not feel a thing until theraputic range they tell me with the Lithium and Depikote.... Trileptal calmed at 75 but as soon as increse to 300 same situation....... Lamictal 25 for 2 weeks ( made me a complete slob, completely out of it possibly made violent...... Anti psychotics tried ( Zyprexa 2.5 ) Made me a complete Freak with a Masked face and confusion, violent pure Psychotic behavior.... Seraquil ( 25 to 100 ) Same deal violent, paranoid, delusional...... Halodal 2.5 to 5 Mg ( Same deal but less intense as newer drugs mentioned above.. Resperadol 0.5 to 3 Mg the higher the dose incresed confusion, Violent Out of it Psychotic..
Geodon 40 2 x a day with increse to 80 2x a day.. Heart palpitaions, Extremely Hyper, suicidal, Reved Up.... All these meds mentioned Reved me up by the way......
So now I said screw the Bi Polar diagnoses and start from scratch without past history at another ADD/ADHD clinic to get another opinion without confusion, Started concerta 18 Mg ER and finally it has calmed me to a point for the ADD/ADHD, Prob will get titrated to next level to see how much more it will help with..The Dr started me off slow to make sure of safty just incase it did the opposite which it did not! Im getting positive outcome with this so far with some bad symptoms decreasing and some good symptoms like Slowed Down more in Brain but not enough prob because dose is so small, and getting better rest to a point like when I wake up I feel rested instead of low energy, Minor increase on focus and minor increase on concentration.. Its been 5 days so far and No serious side effects..I still pace and cannot sit down, to even eat with my wife and child! From wake to sleep Im moving and standing... My sleep hours are flopped to sleep during the day and up late at night due to racing thoughts, negitive thoughts, stuck thoughts etc etc etc.. We think Im finally on the right track with the ADD/ADHD first...... I pretty much know what disorder is doing what and the Mood swings throughout the ADD/ADHD and I know when it happens... Mood is no worse before new ADD med or AFter so its not effecting it...
I have been having these episodes of Complete Fear and Doom like I just witnessed a terrible accident and cant get over it, These have been happening for almost 2 years documented and they come out of No where, I freeze and have trouble breathing or breathing deep I mean, going Into a stare with comple Fear,Dooming thoughts, extreme severe Anxiety and they last up to even 3 to 5 hours 3 to 4 times a week.... Are these panic attacks?????
This will all take CBT without a doubt!!! I must get stable first...! I have socical phobias as well but the Klonopin 4 Mg a day helps with that Im allready taking.. 75 mg effexor which was left this way from a prior Dr because he thought it was reving me up at 225 while I was on the Lithium 1800 for the supposing Bi Polar..
Bi Polar symptoms: some of them are the same as ADD/ADHD but for me the ADD/ADHD symptoms stick out WAY Further and theres more of them for that matter.. New Dr didnt change a thing with current meds which is a Huge relief and smart..... Im hopeful Now but I keep having these serious Panic situations..... Whats your thoughts.... Oh and By the way ,Been to Hospitals and they will not benifit me due to serious worrying and Obsessive Behavior and being in a locked unit without control and knowing whats going to happen... For the ADD/ADHD and OCD no matter how severe I will have to go outpatient... So might as well suck it up and deal with it as well with the Mood disorder Most all this is steming from the same thing in the first place... Its tough!!! Any thoughts...?
I would try a sleep study to rule out obstructive sleep apnea. I can't tell you how many patients I have had who had dx of bipolar and sleep studies revealed OSA. Using CPAP at night has reversed those symptoms with confusing thoughts and depression. Pt's are able to get off all those awful meds and live normal lives. Good luck!
Does having severe Sleep Apnea put you at a greater risk for Alzheimer's.
My wife has benn diagnosed with sleep apnea an would like to know what effect taking Klonopin at night would have?
my son had his tonsils and addenoids taken out when he was 17 months old he is now three years old and he still snores. we are going to start using a cpap machine
To Guy who posted on OCD ADHD MANIC DEPRESSIVE.
You need to get some psychological counseling. Medicine should be used as something to help with a different approach. Taking medicines routinely will change your brain chemistry. You are probably dependent on it by now. Get a psychotherapist. Find out what traumas in the past have let do your social conditions, look into EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing). Go out and try alternatives. You need some help to understand the biology of the disorders to start making your own judgments and combining all your efforts into treating it. The psychologists have more experience than you in this area. Go exercise, eat healthy, take vitamins, get a sleep study done, if you have allergies then get discover what you are allergic to. Certain allergies may cause ADD/ADHD, also tiredness, apathy, etc. Make small positive goals.
The more evidence you get that are positive, the greater your beliefs will change.
You can learn tips from all over the internet. Try them all, don't give up on them.
Good luck. Things will become better.
Hi I have a 7 year old boy with ADHD it has been a long road with my little guy. He was diagnosed with it almost 3 years ago.Single Mom with four kids.Thank goodness for the medication because it helps him alot. This was caused from the Menigitis that he had when he was 3 months old.I thank God everyday for him.
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