Sleep Apnea & ADHD in Texas
Is It Sleep Apnea or ADHD?
As many as 12 million Americans are often misdiagnosed each year with the wrong condition due to similarities between symptoms. If you’re waking up exhausted or struggling to concentrate throughout the day, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder that disrupts your sleep during the night by blocking the airways in your throat.
The most common medical condition that’s often misdiagnosed for sleep apnea is ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). ADHD affects a person’s attention span, and ability to focus, and causes them to struggle to stay still. Due to the similarities between symptoms, children are often misdiagnosed with ADHD instead of sleep apnea since children aren’t able to accurately describe their symptoms.
Fortunately, at Texas Dental Sleep Services, Our providers can help you get the right diagnosis and receive treatment to alleviate the symptoms. We’re proud to offer services across Texas including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso.
Similarities Between Sleep Apnea & ADHD
Due to the similarities between symptoms of ADHD and sleep apnea, it can be difficult to accurately diagnose the condition. Doctors who don’t recognize the signs of sleep apnea may misdiagnose your child with ADHD. It’s important to recognize the symptoms to understand better what you or your child may be suffering from. Shared symptoms can range from:
- Lack of focus
- Forgetfulness
- Disorganization
- Impulsiveness
- Irritability
- Mood swings
Conduct a Sleep Study
To accurately diagnose a disorder, Our providers recommend having your child undergo a sleep study. This study is conducted at home or by a sleep specialist in a laboratory office. If you choose to do an in-office study, the specialist will monitor and record your or your child’s vitals as you sleep. This includes breathing rate, heart rate, brain wave patterns, oxygen saturation, and leg and arm movements that will be monitored and recorded.
After receiving the results, schedule your appointment with one of our providers. They will go over the diagnosis and symptoms before providing treatment options that best suit your needs or your child’s needs. Our treatment options such as oral appliances are designed to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms with utmost comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
ADHD and sleep apnea can both negatively impact your sleep quality. ADHD medications often contain stimulants, causing you to wake up and have further exhaustion during the day. That’s why our providers highly recommends undergoing a sleep study to fully understand what exactly is causing your symptoms.
Yes, receiving treatment can help alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms and improve your functionality. Your body and mind will get the necessary rest they need. Additionally, your immune system is also strengthened once again to protect yourself from further health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Regain Quality Sleep With Effective Sleep Apnea Treatment
Misdiagnosis of sleep apnea as ADHD can lead to the prescription of ineffective or potentially harmful medications and treatments, negatively impacting patients. At Texas Dental Sleep Services, we can provide you with the treatment you need to gain good sleep quality. To make an appointment with one of our sleep dentists, you can either contact our Dallas office at (833) 275-3372 or fill out our online contact form below.
