Parents especially may find this interesting. A recent article in the New York Times describes some recent studies that point out an apparent connection between sleep disorders and symptoms of ADHD in children. Unlike adults who feel groggy and drowsy when deprived of sleep many children become wired and unable to focus. In many cases sleep disorders like sleep apnea may be to blame. The latest study, a large, longitudinal, population-based study, concluded that sleep-disordered breathing may have persistent effects on later behavior in childhood and may require treatment as early as the first year of life.

These findings are concerning in that many children may be treated for symptoms of ADHD while the underlying cause goes unnoticed and untreated. To make matters worse many of the drugs, such as Ritalin and Concerta, used to treat ADHD can cause insomnia and thereby further exacerbate the real problem.