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ADD, ADHD, Bedwetting and the Connection to Sleep Apnea – Las Vegas, NV

Stop the Consequences of Poor-Quality Sleep

woman frustrated with child

If you have a child with ADD or ADHD, you might be surprised to learn that their condition could also be linked to bedwetting. But what can be a bigger shock is discovering that all of these conditions could have the same solution: improving the quality of your child’s sleep! Sometimes, symptoms that are mistaken for ADD and ADHD can be linked to a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. By ensuring that your child can get a good night’s sleep, you can address attention problems at the same time – and as another benefit, you may even keep your little one’s sheets dry.

How are ADD and ADHD Linked to Sleep Disorders?

ADD and ADHD are characterized by a lack of focus and impulsive behaviors. What is often overlooked, though, is that these are also symptoms of sleep apnea. A child with sleep apnea will stop breathing multiple times during the night, forcing their body to wake up briefly. As a result, they don’t spend nearly enough time in the deeper stages of sleep that encourage healthy mental development, leading to several behavioral issues. What makes this situation especially tricky is that ADD and ADHD can also interfere with sleep, as children with these conditions might have trouble settling down at night long enough to get the rest they require.

How is Bedwetting & Sleep Disordered Breathing Linked to Sleep Disorders?

Sleep apnea also increases the risk for bedwetting. There are a couple of possible explanations for this. One idea is that when a child has trouble breathing normally at night, they produce more sweat and urine than normal. Bladder pressure or the production of certain hormones could also be affected and subsequently lead to bedwetting.

How Can iSleepSolutions Help?

mother and son at table

First of all, we need to figure out whether your child’s symptoms are truly a result of ADD or ADHD, or if the cause lies with sleep-disordered breathing. In addition to the symptoms already mentioned, sleep apnea is often characterized by loud snoring, dark circles under the eyes indicating that your child is extremely tired, and frequent nightmares. Naturally, you should also be able to tell whether your child’s breathing is being interrupted simply by observing them while they’re asleep. If you notice any of these warning signs, get in touch with us as soon as possible; Dr. West can work to make sure that your child is properly diagnosed before deciding on a suitable treatment plan.

How Does Treatment Work?

heartbeat monitor on thumb

If we find that your child’s symptoms are indeed linked to a sleep disorder, we can make them an oral appliance to help them breathe normally at night. An oral appliance is made by taking impressions of your little one’s smile; that way we can be sure that it will fit correctly. After just a few nights of wearing the appliance, you should start to notice an improvement in their breathing and sleeping.