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Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD
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Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

Published on: March 12, 2020

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Sleep disturbance and neuropsychological function in young children with ADHD

Heather E Schneider1, Janet C Lam2, E Mark Mahone1

  • 1a Department of Neuropsychology , Kennedy Krieger Institute , Baltimore , MD , USA.

Child Neuropsychology : a Journal on Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence
|March 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children with ADHD experience significant sleep disturbances and neurobehavioral deficits. However, attention and executive function issues in these children are likely due to ADHD itself, not sleep problems.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are prevalent in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
  • Differentiating neurobehavioral dysfunction caused by ADHD versus sleep issues is clinically challenging.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between parent-reported sleep problems and neuropsychological functioning in young children with and without ADHD.
  • To determine if neurobehavioral deficits in children with ADHD are attributable to ADHD symptoms or sleep disturbances.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire for parent-reported sleep data.
  • Assessed neuropsychological functions including attention, executive control, processing speed, and working memory.
  • Compared 64 children aged 4-7 years, with and without ADHD, to typically developing controls.

Main Results:

  • Children with ADHD exhibited significantly higher rates of sleep disturbance (onset delay, anxiety, awakenings, daytime sleepiness) and poorer performance on cognitive tasks compared to controls.
  • Within the ADHD group, sleep disturbance correlated with attention and executive control deficits.
  • Cognitive deficits remained significant even after accounting for sleep disturbance, suggesting ADHD symptoms are the primary cause.

Conclusions:

  • While sleep problems are common in young children with ADHD, inattention and executive dysfunction are primarily linked to ADHD symptoms.
  • Neurobehavioral deficits in this age group appear attributable to ADHD, not sleep disturbance.
  • Future research should explore how sleep, ADHD, and neurobehavioral function interact in older children with chronic sleep issues.

Keywords:
AssessmentChildhoodDevelopmentNeuropsychologicalSleep

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