According to a recent study, kids with ADHD have sleep problems. While that may be news to researchers, it simply confirms what many parents know from experience.

Using polysomnography (a tool that evaluates brain activity and other measures of sleep quality), Danish scientists compared sleep quality of 10-year-olds with ADHD to a same-age control group without ADHD. The results showed that kids with ADHD slept nearly an hour less per night than their peers; during the day, however, they fell asleep faster than their peers.

As noted in a HealthDay article about the research, “At first, the researchers thought this was a surprising finding, because of the hyperactivity that is common in ADHD children. But, they speculated that sleep problems may be contributing to the ADHD, and that the hyperactivity aspect of the disorder might be the brain’s way of compensating for not being able to doze off during school.”

The bottom line is that parents of children with ADHD serve their kids well by helping them to develop sound sleeping habits. Topping the list of how to achieve that is turning off all electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime as devices such as TVs, computers, cellphones and video games keep kids (and adults) stimulated and negatively impact sleep.

Other recommendations include prioritizing sleep health at an early age by implementing a structured bedtime routine that includes a regular bedtime, quiet reading before sleep, and other rituals that work for your family.

Related Smart Kids Topics

• Smartphones Disrupt Children’s Sleep
• Lifestyle Choices for Kids with ADHD