Sleep Disturbances in Children with Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Specific Learning Disorders

Maria Silvia Saccani; Luciana Ursumando; Silvia Di Vara; Giulia Lazzaro; Cristiana Varuzza; Stefano Vicari; Deny Menghini

doi:10.3390/ijerph19116411

Sleep Disturbances in Children with Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Specific Learning Disorders

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 25;19(11):6411. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116411.

Authors

Maria Silvia Saccani^{1

2}, Luciana Ursumando¹, Silvia Di Vara¹, Giulia Lazzaro¹, Cristiana Varuzza¹, Stefano Vicari^{1

3}, Deny Menghini¹

Affiliations

¹ Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.
² Department of General Psychology, Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.
³ Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Sleep disturbances may be a significant source of distress for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and consequently also for their families. Crucially, sleep disturbances might be influenced by comorbidity. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disorder (SLD) often co-occur, and consequently, investigating sleep disturbances in children with comorbidity of ADHD and SLD is essential. Our study aimed at detecting sleep difficulties in a group of 74 children with ADHD, 78 children with SLD, and 76 children with ADHD and SLD by using the Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children. The results showed that sleep difficulties emerge more clearly in children with comorbid ADHD and SLD compared to children with only ADHD or SLD. These sleep difficulties were not due to differences in ages and behavioral/emotional problems. In conclusion, evaluating sleep disturbances is important when assessing and managing children with ADHD, SLD, and particularly with the two comorbid conditions, to better understand their difficulties and develop tailored interventions.

Keywords: ADHD; dyslexia; insomnia; neurodevelopmental disorders.

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / complications
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / epidemiology
Child
Comorbidity
Humans
Sleep
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / complications
Sleep Wake Disorders* / complications
Sleep Wake Disorders* / epidemiology
Specific Learning Disorder*

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.