Not getting good sleep is rough. We all know it! That is why it is so important to support children’s sleep patterns to help them get the most out of the night as they can.
Not getting sufficient sleep can have a range of negative outcomes for children, from being irritable and lethargic to having reduced concentration, coordination, and motivation. This is not conducive to learning and development. Unfortunately, ADHD child sleep problems are a factor for many kids, which may compound other challenges. So, how can you help? ADHD affects children in various ways, but support options are on offer.
Music therapy Sydney may help your child improve their sleep patterns and experience a better night’s sleep. Find out more about how Chatterbox could help your child through music therapy.
How Does ADHD Impact Sleep Patterns?
A vast majority of children with ADHD deal with some form of sleep issue. Whether that be related to going to bed, falling asleep, or remaining asleep, it can create larger problems. It is unclear at this stage why children with ADHD tend to have sleep issues, but the factors can generally be categorised as behavioural or medical.
Medical Factors
Some health conditions or underlying issues that are associated with ADHD may affect sleep patterns.
Some medical factors that may impact sleep patterns include:
- Anxiety.
- Certain medications, such as stimulants.
- Circadian-rhythm sleep disorders, such as delayed sleep-phase disorder.
- Reduced melatonin production.
- Narcolepsy.
- Sleep-disordered breathing, such as snoring and apnoea.
- Issues with brain signals and pathways.
- Restless legs syndrome.
Behavioural Factors
There is a range of issues that can be attributed to behaviour that may impact the sleep patterns of children with ADHD. These may sound the same as those for children without ADHD, and they generally are. However, these behavioural factors are more prominent in kids with ADHD.
Some behavioural factors that may impact sleep patterns include:
- Nightmares.
- Getting up due to various excuses.
- Resistance to going to bed due to factors such as anxiousness and fear.
- Reliance on items, people, or a specific routine, such as needing a parent lying next to them.
- Restlessness.
- Overthinking.
- Waking throughout the night.
- Delayed waking in the morning.
How Do Sleep Problems Impact Children With ADHD?
ADHD may cause issues similar to those that can arise from poor sleep patterns and vice versa. Insufficient sleep can also compound signs and symptoms of ADHD.
Issues that may affect children with ADHD due to sleep problems include:
- Decreased functioning and inattention.
- Reduced processing skills.
- Hyperactivity.
- Increased depression and anxiety risk.
- Being overweight.
- Emotion self-regulation issues.
- Reduced school attendance.
When a child with ADHD has sleep issues, it can affect the whole family. Caregivers for these kids have an increased risk of developing mental health issues, and siblings may also struggle with related issues, such as disrupted sleep and resentment.
How Does Music Help Kids With ADHD?
There is a variety of steps you can take to support your child if they have ADHD. One such option is harnessing the power of music. Music can be beneficial in many ways, and scientific studies have shown that the correlation between ADHD and music can have a significant and positive effect on children.
Certain pieces of music can help improve a child’s focus and bring them calm. It may be effective as background music throughout the day or night. Classical music is often recommended for this technique. It also has the potential to help develop a child’s brain due to the structure and patterns involved.
Music can also help children with ADHD improve their auditory issues, learning, memory and spatial reasoning abilities, motor function, and speech and language skills. Playing instruments or singing can also support these outcomes as well as supporting areas such as comprehension and impulse control.
Does Music Therapy Help Kids With ADHD Sleep?
Music, particularly classical music, does have the potential to help children who live with ADHD develop better sleep patterns. The music therapists at Chatterbox are trained and experienced in utilising music in an evidence-based, therapeutic way. We employ a range of techniques and approaches that we personalise to each child to help them improve their sleep patterns.
Some music and associated activities, for example, can be used as a meditative tool to relax overactive minds and bodies. This may help regulate your child’s heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure and relax their muscles, which may promote deeper, less disturbed sleep.
Listening to and playing music during the day can also help sleep in the long run. This is due to a variety of reasons, such as improvement in self-esteem and confidence, reduction in emotional issues and anxiety, and a release of built-up energy.
Visit Chatterbox For ADHD Sleep Support
At Chatterbox, we are dedicated to developing tailored music therapy programs that support your child with ADHD and help them improve areas of their life that are challenging, such as sleep.
Our music & speech therapists Sydney are passionate about combining the wonders of music with evidence-based therapy to help children discover a better quality of life. If your child has ADHD and is having trouble sleeping, please contact our friendly team to find out how we may help you.