Hyperactive kids may have sleep apnoea
14 March 2003
Children with mild hyperactive behaviour that does not fulfil criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have obstructive sleep apnoea, US researchers warn.
Sleep apnoea is a condition in which a person stops breathing for a very short time every few minutes during sleep due to their airway being blocked by their tongue and throat. It is often associated with snoring.
The researchers recommended that doctors take a sleep history in children with mild hyperactivity who didn't fulfil criteria for ADHD, and perform sleep studies in those who snored (Pediatrics 2003; 111: 554-63).
They surveyed the parents of 5728 children aged 5-7 years, and found an unusually high rate of snoring in children whose parents reported mild hyperactivity.
However, children with significant ADHD symptoms did not have a greater risk of obstructive sleep apnoea than the general population.
Last Reviewed: 17 March 2003
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 14/3/03
