CDC Reports That Half of U.S. Children Diagnosed with ADHD Received Diagnosis By Age 6

This article is a treasure trove. I wonder how many of these children have had qustions asked about their sleep? - JR

CDC Reports That Half of U.S. Children Diagnosed with ADHD Received Diagnosis By Age 6

A new study published in JAACAP found that an estimated two million more children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between 2003-04 and 2011-12. One million more U.S. children were taking medication for ADHD between 2003-04 and 2011-12.

ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. It often persists into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention and/or controlling impulsive behaviors. Effective treatments for ADHD include medication, mental health treatment, or a combination of the two. When children diagnosed with ADHD receive proper treatment, they have the best chance of thriving at home, doing well at school, and making and keeping friends.

•  The parent-reported prevalence of a history of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis by a health care provider among U.S. school-aged children increased from 7.8% in 2003 to 11% in 2011, an increase of 42% in less than a decade.
•  In 2011, the median age of ADHD diagnosis was approximately 6 years of age, but children reported by their parents as having more severe ADHD were diagnosed earlier.
•  The percentage of US school-aged children with a parent-report of current medication treatment for ADHD increased from 4.8% in 2007 to 6.1% in 2011, an increase of 27% in approximately 4 years.
•  More U.S. school-aged children were receiving ADHD treatment in 2011 than in 2007, but nearly 1 in 5 with current ADHD were not receiving either medication.

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Random Bedtimes Breed Bad Behavior In Kids

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Parents learn the hard way that late bedtimes make for cranky kids the next day. But inconsistent bedtimes may have a greater effect on children's behavior, a study says.

Kids who didn't go to bed on a regular schedule had more behavior problems at home and at school. When those children were put to bed at the same time each night, their behavior improved.

That data came from an ongoing study of 10,230 British schoolchildren. Mothers were asked if their child had a regular bedtime during the school week. That information was collected when the children were ages 3, 5 and 7.

The mothers were also asked to complete a standardized test that measures behavior, including conduct problems, hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, problems with peers and positive behavior.

Children who went to bed after 9 p.m. were rated as having more behavior problems than children who went to bed earlier. That's no surprise; there's abundant evidence on the effects of lack of sleep on children's school performance and behavior.

But irregular bedtimes actually caused worse behavior than short sleep.

Teachers were asked to rate some of the children's behavior at age 7. They too reported more behavior problems in children with irregular bedtimes.

The good news is that the behavior problems improved when children were shifted to a more regular schedule. The scientists call that a "clear dose-response pattern." And behavior deteriorated in children who had regular bedtimes at age 5 and were on a more random plan by age 7, the parents said.

The sleep issues could affect behavior in two ways, according to the researchers at University College London. It could mess up children's circadian rhythms, which are slow to change. And it could affect maturing brain regions involved in regulation of behavior.

Pediatricians should ask about irregular bedtimes, the researchers say, not just how many hours a kid is logging.

This study has shortcomings. It doesn't report how much the children actually slept, but rather how much their mothers said they slept. And it could be that the families with random bedtimes had other problems that affected the child's behavior.

Lack of sleep causes health problems in children and adults, including weight gain and insulin resistance.

And regular bedtimes are recommended for adults too, because maintaining a regular circadian rhythmmakes it easier to fall asleep and wake up on time. No word if it makes grownups less cranky. But it probably couldn't hurt.

Sleep problems in hyperactive children

This article discusses why hyperactive children may have trouble sleeping, and action to take regarding their sleep issues.

Sleep problems may affect up to half of children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Typical problems include resisting getting into bed and difficulty falling asleep.

Poor sleep can cause attention problems in all children. But poor sleep can affect attention even more in those with ADHD. And it also works the other way; ADHD may be the reason for disrupted sleep. The two problems may have common biological roots.

In children with ADHD, brain circuits that control attention and sleep may function poorly. Another potential culprit is an unsteady circadian rhythm. This is the biological rhythm that makes us tired at night and more awake in the morning.

Symptoms such as hyperactivity and an inability to settle down may contribute to bedtime resistance. Likewise, poor sleep at night can make behavior worse during the day.

People with ADHD frequently also have anxiety, depression, learning disorders, conduct disorders, sleep-disordered breathing, or restless leg syndrome. All of these can cause sleep problems.

The drugs used to treat ADHD can interfere with sleep. Most drugs for ADHD are stimulants. But in children and teens, stimulants generally have an opposite effect of calming them down.

It’s usually best for children and teens to take stimulants early in the day. Sometimes, mood or behaviors get worse as the stimulant drug wears off. Those children may require a lower dose, a time-release formula, or a non-stimulant drug.

In most cases, the approach to sleep problems in children with ADHD will be similar to the approach with any child. Here are some tips:

• If medications are part of the treatment, adjust them to minimize any bad effect on sleep.

• Try to stick to a regular sleep/wake schedule.

• If possible, avoid caffeine after noon. That includes coffee, tea, some soft drinks, chocolate drinks and candy.

• Keep the bedroom free of distractions, like TV or video games.

• Get a therapist’s help for managing worries that may be interfering with sleep.

• Promote exercise during the day, but calm activities in the hours before bedtime.

• Above all, exercise patience. It’s harder to develop good sleep habits if sleep becomes a struggle. The goal is to help your child acquire one of the most important skills – knowing how to get a good night’s sleep. That could provide a lifetime of benefits.

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