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503-391-9558

Is My Sleep Apnea Being Misdiagnosed as ADHD?

  • Sleep Apnea
  • What is Sleep Apnea?
  • Causes and Symptoms
  • Sleep Apnea in Children
  • PTSD and Sleep Apnea
  • Exercise & Sleep Apnea
  • Sleep Apnea & Your Relationship

Understanding Your Condition

If you’re experiencing discrepancies in your sleep and wake up feeling tired, you may be experiencing sleep apnea. About 22 million adults in America suffer from this condition, and one to five percent of children suffer from it as well.

Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s airflow is obstructed, which results in a lack of sleep each night. A sufferer may wake up feeling restless as well.

ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is diagnosed in adults and children who have trouble focusing or are overactive. People suffering from sleep apnea have also been falsely diagnosed with ADHD. This could be due to the fact that doctors might look at the symptoms before the causes of a disorder, or they aren’t well educated about sleep apnea.

Tired little girl holding her head and rubbing her eyes
Child resting her head on a table

Similar Symptoms Between Sleep Apnea and ADHD

Sometimes symptoms of sleep apnea mimic those of ADHD. This causes sleep apnea to be prescribed with unnecessary ADHD medications and treatments.

Sleep apnea is rare in children, and as many as 25 percent of children are misdiagnosed with ADHD.

Similar symptoms between the two disorders include:

  • Restlessness
  • Trouble Focusing
  • Irritability

Children can’t always communicate their feelings to their doctors as well as adults can, which is another reason why they might be misdiagnosed.

Getting the Right Diagnosis and Care

Understanding the condition you or your child are going through and how to treat it is essential. The best way to determine if you’re suffering from sleep apnea is by participating in a sleep study. Dr. Aldrich is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and can recommend a local sleep physician to deliver you with the most accurate diagnosis.

While your child’s physician may prescribe a specific treatment device, some cases can even be treated with specific exercise and a healthy diet.

Call us today or simply fill out our contact form to learn more about how sleep apnea may be affecting your child.

Family running though a field holding a kite.

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Call 503-391-9558

Whether you’re visiting for the first time or have been part of our dental family for years, our dental office offers comfortable and compassionate care to every patient that walks through the door. Contact our Salem dentist today to schedule an appointment and see how our sleep apnea treatments can help you sleep better.

Riverbend Sleep

By Appointment Only.
Monday: 8AM- 5PM
Tuesday: 8AM-5PM
Wednesday: 8AM-5PM
Thursday: 8AM-5PM
Friday: 8AM-12PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

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503-391-9558

Michelle Aldrich, DMD, D.ABDSM
1285 Wallace Road NW
Salem, OR 97304