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Parents Of ADHD Children Suffering Sleep Problems

by Medindia Content Team on Nov 29 2005 8:32 PM

A recent survey has revealed that about 6 out of 10 parents of hyperactive children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are not getting enough sleep.

The motive of the ‘Sleep Seekers campaign’, launched by the drugs firm Eli Lilly and National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service (ADDISS) is to help parents tackle sleep problems.

The survey included 100 parents of children with ADHD, aged 5-16, and discovered that while parents of children without ADHD reported at least eight hours of sleep a night, 30% of the parents with ADHD said they got 6 hours, and a further 27% said they got 5 hours or less on the average night.

The poll, involving 100 parents of ADHD children aged 5 to 16, suggests that tens of thousands of parents in the UK could be struggling by on minimal sleep as they try to cope with a hyperactive child.

According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence about 5% of children in the UK are affected by ADHD. Most of the drugs available to control ADHD are liable to disrupt sleep patterns, and are hence not advisable.

The survey discovered that parents of ADHD children were more likely to have missed work, or avoided social activities, due to tiredness as a result of trying to cope with a hyperactive child. Tiredness was also found to be the cause of piling pressure on family relationships.

The campaign asserts that parents should be motivated to develop regular sleep routines and seek therapies to help minimize the negative impact of ADHD.

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