A new study finds that children’s bedtime habits can lead to a misdiagnosis of ADHD, according to the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology.
“ADHD is a difficult diagnosis because its based on symptoms,” Dr. Mary Graber said. “We require that kids have symptoms in more than one situation.”
The study by the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology found that children who do not have a regular bedtime had ADHD-like behaviors eight times more frequently than children who did have a regular bedtime.
And, children who did not sleep in their own beds had ADHD-like behavior seven times more frequently than children who slept in their own beds.
“We know that kids that don’t get enough sleep have more trouble with focus, more trouble with impulsivity, more trouble with mood,” Dr Graber said.
“We know that the more TV children watch before the age of five, the more likely they are to have ADHD,” she said. “Twenty-five percent of two-year-olds have a TV in their rooms. That was not happening before.”
Graber suggests that elementary-age children need about 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night. This can help kids be more focused during the school day.