Lynsay Clutter/Eyewitness News
Children are back in school and hitting the books again, but some of them will find it difficult to concentrate on learning. Attention Deficit Disorder could be the cause, although some studies indicate the problem may start with how well your child sleeps at night. A different option could could lead to the right diagnosis and treatment.
Second grader Drake Featherstone is in pajamas and ready for bed, but getting a good night's sleep isn't easy for him.
"He snores, he talks in his sleep, he's very restless," said his mother, Susan Featherstone.
That causes behavior problems and difficulty with school work. "It does make it hard for him to concentrate. We have even talked with his counselor about testing for ADHD," she said.
But before using stimulant drugs as a solution, Susan wanted more investigation, suspecting her son's poor sleep could be the cause. In fact, The National Sleep Foundation reports that one in five kids doesn't get the recommended nine hours of sleep on school nights, often resulting in lower grades, and bad attitudes.
"When children get tired, they get irritable, they lose their attention, they become more difficult to deal with," said Dr. Theodore Nukes, Heartland Neurology. "There is evidence that some children that are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder really have a sleep disorder that drives their ADD/ADHD-like symptoms."
His mother is hopeful a sleep study in the Heartland Neurology Lab will find the answer. "Are they not breathing well at night? Have they stopped breathing 50, 60, 70 times an hour? Are they kicking and moving their legs all night long?" Dr. Nukes said.
Although Drake is wrapped up in wires and electrodes, he will eventually drift off and technicians will monitor his sleep overnight. A lab placed in a hotel room instead of a hospital will make it easier so when lights go out, it feels more like his own bedroom. His mother will also stay the night, dreaming of a diagnosis and proper treatment to help her son at home and in school.
