04/10/2026
It’s estimated that 50–70% of children diagnosed with ADHD also have some type of sleep disturbance.
But the real question is…�Is ADHD causing the sleep issues, or could poor sleep be driving the ADHD-like symptoms?
If your child has an ADHD diagnosis and also experiences any of the following, it may be worth taking a closer look at their sleep and airway:
• Mouth breathing�• Snoring�• Bedwetting beyond typical age�• Clumsiness or poor coordination�• Restless legs�• Teeth grinding�• Daytime fatigue�• Night terrors�• Allergies or asthma�• Crooked teeth�• Forward head posture�• Low tongue posture�• Dark circles under the eyes
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has acknowledged that children with untreated sleep disorders can sometimes be misdiagnosed with ADHD.
So why do these behaviors show up?
When a child isn’t breathing well at night, they aren’t sleeping well either. Over time, this leads to chronic exhaustion. To compensate, the body ramps up stimulation just to stay alert—often presenting as hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity.
In many cases, stimulant medications may help manage symptoms, but they don’t address the underlying issue if sleep-disordered breathing is involved.
That’s why the AAPD encourages providers to routinely screen for sleep-related breathing disorders in children.
