Untreated Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of ADHD, Learning Problems in Children

The prevalence of a common type of sleep-disordered breathing among children, obstructive sleep apnea, may play a major role in the recent surge of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) cases in the country, a new study says.

The study, published in the journal Sleep, found that sleep apnea places children at an increased risk of many behavioral, adaptive and learning problems.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes abnormal stoppage of breathing while sleeping. According to a recent report from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), approximately 1.2 to 5.7 percent of American children are affected by this disorder.

Lead author of the study Michelle Perfect and colleagues based their study on the Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study (TuCASA). More than 260 children underwent an overnight sleep study and other tests.

During the 5-year study, some children were diagnosed with sleep apnea, while some got completely cured (41 children). Researchers found 23 children having incident sleep apnea and 21 children having persistent sleep apnea.

At the end of the study, researchers found that children with any type of sleep apnea are at a higher risk of experiencing a series of difficulties, including learning and attention problems, hyperactivity, disruptive behaviors and problems with communication, social competency and self-care. "This study provides some helpful information for medical professionals consulting with parents about treatment options for children with SDB that, although it may remit, there are considerable behavioral risks associated with continued SDB," Perfect said in a news release. "School personnel should also consider the possibility that SDB contributes to difficulties with hyperactivity, learning and behavioral and emotional dysregulation in the classroom."

"Even though SDB appears to decline into adolescence, taking a wait and see approach is risky and families and clinicians alike should identify potential treatments," she added.

According to AAP, polysomnography is the best diagnostic method for identifying sleep and ventilator abnormalities, and adenotonsillectomy can be adopted as a first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In addition, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be opted for children who do not respond to surgical treatment.