Has your child been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD? If so, you should consider having their sleep evaluated by a sleep physician.

The American Sleep Apnea Association reports that as many as 25% of kids with ADHD have sleep apnea problems. Furthermore, an article in the March 2012 issue of the journal Pediatrics found that children with problems such as mouth breathing, snoring and sleep apnea are 40-100% more likely to develop behavioral problems that resemble ADHD.

That means that what has been diagnosed as ADD or ADHD might actually be symptoms of a sleep disorder – the possibility exists that your child has been misdiagnosed. What’s worse is that medications prescribed to treat ADD and ADHD tend to be stimulants, which further affect and exacerbate sleep problems 

If you are concerned that your child may be having sleep issues, have your pediatrician refer you to a sleep specialist.