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One of the world's most comprehensive studies into ADHD in children has broken down the factors that can adversely affect their health and quality of life.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
7 Sleep Behaviors That May Actually Be Sneaky Signs Of ADHD
Late-night scrolling, restless tossing and groggy mornings aren't always the result of too much caffeine or poor sleep hygiene, but could also be signs of something deeper. As ADHD diagnoses rise among adults, experts shed light on how the condition can impact sleep behaviors in ways that often go unrecognized. And if you're experiencing any of these challenges, here are expert-backed strategies to help improve your sleep. 1. Sleeping And Waking At Atypical Times Though often seen as simply being a night owl, there's actually a strong neurological overlap between ADHD and circadian rhythm disruptions like delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS). 'People with ADHD often experience a delayed release of melatonin, making it harder to feel sleepy at conventional times,' said Dr. Chelsea Sarai, clinical psychologist and founder of the Brentwood Therapy Collective. 'Combined with difficulty transitioning between tasks and regulating internal cues, their sleep-wake cycles naturally shift later and later, often without them realizing it.' The brain of someone with DSPS is wired to come alive at night, which makes it challenging to match typical daily routines. A way to gradually shift one's sleep schedule earlier is by getting exposure to natural light in the morning to help reset the body's internal clock. 'In the evening, reducing blue light exposure and maintaining a consistent wind-down routine can reinforce those shifts,' Sarai said. Related: 2. Difficulty 'Shutting Off' The Brain At Night Feeling physically tired but mentally alert can lead to long nights awake, and growing sleep debt. 'A hallmark of ADHD is difficulty regulating attention, not just focusing when needed, but also knowing how to mentally disengage,' Sarai said. 'At night, when external distractions fade, the brain suddenly has space to process everything that's been pushed aside during the day. This often leads to a surge of racing thoughts or mental 'noise' that makes it hard to wind down and fall asleep.' These thoughts can resemble anxiety, but Sarai notes they're not always anxious — they might be creative ideas or hyperfixations. Be realistic about how long it takes to fall asleep and create a wind-down routine to support it. 'It could look like writing down all the thoughts in one's head before bed as a way to honor those creative thoughts and trust that you will get back to them at a more appropriate time,' Sarai said. 3. Trouble Waking Up Despite Adequate Sleep Trouble waking up despite getting enough sleep is often brushed off as laziness, poor self-discipline or even a sign of depression. But in many cases, it can be attributed to having a delayed circadian rhythm and the ADHD brain struggling to shift from sleep to wakefulness, said Dr. Zishan Khan, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and regional medical director at Mindpath Health. 'Low dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the morning can also lead to grogginess, poor motivation and difficulty activating for the day,' he added. He suggests regulating the sleep-wake cycle by implementing consistent bedtimes and wake times, even on weekends, and using visual cues or alarms that gradually increase in volume or light. Related: 4. Using Screens To Fall Asleep Those with ADHD often turn to screens to calm a restless mind. 'The sensory stimulation — visual, auditory or narrative — can help distract from intrusive thoughts or anxiety, making it easier to drift off,' Khan said. For some, screens even mirror the level of internal alertness they're used to, which paradoxically helps them settle. But because screens suppress melatonin and delay sleep onset, even if someone falls asleep while using one, their sleep quality may still suffer from continued stimulation or disrupted sleep cycles. To support better sleep, try gradually replacing screen time with low-stimulation options like audiobooks, white noise or guided meditations. 'Establishing a 30- to 60-minute wind-down period before bed is crucial, ideally involving non-screen activities that still provide sensory regulation, such as dim lighting, gentle music or tactile tools like weighted blankets,' Khan said. 5. Bedtime Procrastination Delaying bedtime despite knowing it's time to sleep is often tied to poor time perception and difficulty shifting away from preferred activities. 'People with ADHD may hyperfocus on an enjoyable task late into the evening or delay sleep because it represents the end of their 'free time' after a demanding day,' Khan said. Related: In kids and teens, this can be mistaken for defiance. A consistent, rewarding bedtime routine with built-in cues and transitions can help. 'Visual timers, reminders and positive reinforcement can help signal the winding-down process,' Khan said. 'For those with ADHD, it's key to build in extra time for this process, as it often takes longer than expected to shift gears.' 6. Frequent Middle-Of-The-Night Wakeups People with ADHD often experience fragmented sleep due to arousal dysregulation and heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli like noise or light. 'When they wake, which is normal even for good sleepers, they may struggle to fall back asleep due to intrusive thoughts or urges to engage in stimulating activities,' said Dr. Nicole Moshfegh, a licensed clinical psychologist and director of We Rise Psychology, Inc. These disruptions can prevent the brain from cycling through all the important stages of sleep, especially deep and REM sleep, leading to grogginess, reduced focus and memory, and less impulse control the next day. If you wake up at night, avoid checking the clock or using screens, which can increase alertness. Instead, Moshfegh suggests practicing stimulus control: if you're awake for 15 to 20 minutes, get out of bed and do a quiet, dim-light activity like reading or stretching until you feel sleepy. 'This helps recondition the brain to associate the bed with sleep, not wakefulness.' Related: 7. Oversleeping On Days Off Sleeping in on days off often reflects an attempt to make up for late or inconsistent bedtimes during the week. 'Without external structure, they revert to their intrinsic rhythm of going to bed and sleeping in later,' Moshfegh said of those with ADHD. 'Oversleeping on weekends leads to social jet lag, a mismatch between biological and social clocks.' This can make it harder to fall asleep Sunday night and leave you tired at the start of the week. To keep your sleep on track, stick to consistent wake-up times and get morning light, either by going outside or using a light therapy box, within 30 to 60 minutes of waking. 'This light acts as a strong cue to anchor your internal clock and reduce daytime sleepiness,' Moshfegh said. Here's When To Consider An ADHD Assessment If you consistently struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or wake up feeling unrefreshed despite practicing good sleep hygiene, and these issues coexist with difficulties in focus, organization, time management or emotional regulation, it may be worth seeking an evaluation for ADHD. 'This is especially true if sleep difficulties have been lifelong or began in childhood, and if they interfere with daytime functioning at school, work or in relationships,' Khan said. 'It's important to view sleep problems not in isolation, but in the context of other symptoms that may point toward a broader neurodevelopmental condition.' Related... 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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Woke Canadian court stops Indian man from being deported because his wife has ADHD
A Canadian judge has blocked the deportation of an Indian man because his wife has ADHD and will suffer 'irreparable harm' if they are separated. Federal Judge Avvy Yao-Yao Go granted Indian immigrant Jagjit Singh's stay of removal to India on Tuesday in a court filing viewed by the Daily Mail. Singh came to Canada in 2021 on a temporary resident visa and made a refugee claim upon his arrival, according to the filing. However, after he married his wife, identified in court documents as L.B., on January 13 2025, she applied to sponsor his permanent resident application, and Singh withdrew his refugee claim. In the following months, Singh underwent the removal interview process by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) while his permanent resident application was under review and was ultimately ordered to be deported. Singh appealed to Canada's federal court, claiming he would be in danger if he was sent back to India, and his removal would cause serious prejudice to his spouse due to her health conditions. According to the filing, Go found evidence that Singh's wife has ADHD and would experience 'irreparable harm' if he were deported. 'In the case before me, there is evidence that L.B. suffers from ADHD which impairs her ability to manage time, stress focus and everyday responsibilities and that [Singh] provides her with support by, among other things, helping her maintain daily structure and reminders for medications and appointments, and providing her with emotional stability and mental health support,' Go said. 'In the end, taking into consideration the irreparable harm to [Singh's] spouse on the... I find that granting the stay until the underlying [application] is determined would be just and equitable in all the circumstances of the case.' Go's reasoning sparked furious backlash online, with many accusing the judge of pushing her own agenda. 'Okay, so we got migrant activist judges (with a history of attacking the Canadian population) letting migrant criminals off the hook over imaginary afflictions that aren't life-threatening or his own,' one person said. 'We do not need activist judges - we need level-headed atheists who make decisions on evidence and logic,' said another. 'So our system refuses to remove someone who is here illegally based on a flimsy excuse,' added a third person. Others blasted the judge for accepting his wife's ADHD as an excuse and said it was belittling to people with the condition. 'I wonder how his wife survived before she met him?' one person said. 'This is beyond insulting. Not only to people with ADHD, but to our country. So pathetic,' added another. 'This is ridiculous. ADHD is not so debilitating that the judge should have made this decision,' a third person said. Go immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in the 1980s and worked as Clinic Director of the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic before becoming a judge. 'Go has 30 years of advocacy and litigation experience on behalf of low-income racialized clients,' according to her Canadian Bar Association (CBA) profile. She told the CBA, 'I worked exclusively in the legal clinic system helping low-income, racialized clients who faced multiple challenges in accessing the legal system. 'I believe the work I did in the clinic system helped me become more empathetic and more open to appreciating the different experiences that different individuals have with the justice system.'
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Parents are 'causing ADHD in their children' with key nutrition mistake, claims top professor
A leading professor has waded into the debate about ADHD being 'caused' by poor diet choices—and shared a totally new perspective. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK, with the majority of diagnoses coming between the ages of 6 and 12. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can include constant fidgeting, excessive movement or talking, acting without thinking and having little to no sense of danger. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure—although many experts (and naysayers) have linked the hyperactivity element of the condition to diet. Professor Emeritus David Benton, of Swansea University, explained that while people have previously focused on telling the parents of ADHD children to avoid E numbers and additives, perhaps they should look at the bigger picture. Writing for The Conversation, he asks why the focus hasn't been on what foodstuffs the chemicals are typically present in—which are predominantly ultra-processed foods (UPFs). He explained: 'Having a high intake of additives correlates with a high intake of ultra-processed food—usually a diet high in sugar and fat, while low in fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. 'So, why assume that additives are the problem, and not the rest of the diet?' UPF is an umbrella term used to cover anything edible made with colourings, sweeteners and preservatives that extend shelf life. Ready meals, ice cream and tomato ketchup are some of the best-loved examples of products that fall under the umbrella UPF term, now synonymous with foods offering little nutritional value. They are different to processed foods, which are tinkered to make them last longer or enhance their taste, such as cured meat, cheese and fresh bread. Numerous studies have uncovered links between fizzy drinks, biscuits and ready meals and a catalogue of health problems, including heart disease and even some cancers. Professor Benton continued that low-income parents often rely on UPFs in order to feed their families due to cost restrictions, and it might be no coincidence that ADHD is often diagnosed in children from this demographic. He said: 'Eating ultra-processed food—and therefore additives – is more common among low-income families, who are also at greater risk of ADHD. 'To some extent ADHD may be an indication of poverty, and a generally poor diet, reflecting the financial need to eat cheaper ultra-processed foods.' However, if you think swapping your child to a diet of whole grains, fresh produce and dietary basics like milk and eggs will help reduce their hyperactivity, Professor Benton disagrees. He explained that previous studies revealed that even 'clean' diets had the potential to cause changes in behaviour. Citing a study from 1985 in which children were fed a very limited menu before certain foods were gradually reintroduced to see what triggered a reaction, it wasn't just sweets and fizzy drinks that left them bouncing off the walls. Professor Benson writes: 'It found that at least one of the children reacted adversely to 48 of the foods in their diet with signs of hyperactivity. 'With cows' milk this was true for 64 per cent of children in the study. 'For grapes it was 49 per cent, hens' eggs 29 per cent, fish 23 per cent, apples 13 per cent and tea 10 per cent. 'These are not ultra-processed foods, but we need to explore whether they contain chemicals that influence the biology of some individuals.' He added that nearly 80 per cent of them 'reacted to a preservative and a colouring, although the doses used were greater than would be normally consumed'. And, crucially, 'no child reacted only to these additives, and different children reacted to different foods, only removing additives wouldn't eliminate symptoms'. Professor Benton concluded that frustratingly, when it comes to reducing hyperactivity in children with ADHD it's not a one size fits all solution, and parents need to address their children's overall diet, not just focus on avoiding certain things. 'For parents concerned about their child's ADHD, it's worth remembering that food additives are unlikely to be the sole cause,' he said. 'If a child's behaviour seems linked to diet, keeping a food diary can help identify patterns. 'But any elimination diet should be approached with care and expert advice, to avoid doing more harm than good. 'Ultimately, every child is different, and what works for one may not work for another.' The UK is the worst in Europe for eating UPFs, which make up an estimated 57 per cent of the national diet. They are thought to be a key driver of obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.5billion a year treating weight-related disease like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Last year, disturbing data also suggested that children who ate lots of UPFs show early signs of poor heart health and diabetes risk factors from as young as three years old. WHAT IS ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include: Constant fidgeting Poor concentration Excessive movement or talking Acting without thinking Inability to deal with stress Little or no sense of danger Careless mistakes Mood swings Forgetfulness Difficulty organising tasks Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones Inability to listen or carry out instructions Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure. A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.
