A new study in the March issue of the journal Sleep indicates that the ability of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to remain vigilant and attentive deteriorated significantly after losing less than one hour of nightly sleep for a week. The study suggests that even moderate reductions in sleep duration can affect neurobehavioral functioning, which may have a negative impact on the academic performance of children with ADHD.
“Moderate sleep restriction leads to a detectable negative impact on the neurobehavioral functioning of children with ADHD and healthy controls, leading to a clinical level of impairment in children with ADHD,” said lead author and principal investigator Reut Gruber PhD, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at McGill University and director of the Attention, Behavior and Sleep Laboratory at Douglas Mental Health University Institute.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by an unusually high and chronic level of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is one of the most prevalent conditions in child psychiatry, and has been estimated to occur in 3% to 7.5% of school-age children.1 ADHD routinely continues into adolescence and adulthood and, if untreated, may result in impairments in crucial areas of life.
“The reduction in sleep duration in our study was modest and similar to the sleep deprivation that might occur in daily life,” Gruber said. “Thus, even small changes in dinner time, computer time, or staying up to do homework could result in poorer neurobehavioral functioning the following day and affect sustained attention and vigilance, which are essential for optimal academic performance.”
Gruber added that the problem of inadequate sleep in students needs to be prioritized and addressed by the educational system.
“An important implication of the present study is that investments in programs that aim to decrease sleep deprivation may lead to improvements in neurobehavioral functioning and academic performance,” she said.
Currently she and her research team are implementing the “Sleep for Success” program in elementary schools in Québec. The program provides tools to help classroom teachers, students and parents reduce sleep deprivation in children and adolescents.
The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ).
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Times of IndiaA new study in the March issue of the journal Sleep indicates that the ability of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to remain vigilant and attentive deteriorated significantly after losing less than one hour of nightly sleep for a week. The study suggests that even moderate reductions in sleep duration can affect neurobehavioral functioning, which may have a negative impact on the academic performance of children with ADHD.
“Moderate sleep restriction leads to a detectable negative impact on the neurobehavioral functioning of children with ADHD and healthy controls, leading to a clinical level of impairment in children with ADHD,” said lead author and principal investigator Reut Gruber PhD, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at McGill University and director of the Attention, Behavior and Sleep Laboratory at Douglas Mental Health University Institute.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by an unusually high and chronic level of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is one of the most prevalent conditions in child psychiatry, and has been estimated to occur in 3% to 7.5% of school-age children.1 ADHD routinely continues into adolescence and adulthood and, if untreated, may result in impairments in crucial areas of life.
“The reduction in sleep duration in our study was modest and similar to the sleep deprivation that might occur in daily life,” Gruber said. “Thus, even small changes in dinner time, computer time, or staying up to do homework could result in poorer neurobehavioral functioning the following day and affect sustained attention and vigilance, which are essential for optimal academic performance.”
Gruber added that the problem of inadequate sleep in students needs to be prioritized and addressed by the educational system.
“An important implication of the present study is that investments in programs that aim to decrease sleep deprivation may lead to improvements in neurobehavioral functioning and academic performance,” she said.
Currently she and her research team are implementing the “Sleep for Success” program in elementary schools in Québec. The program provides tools to help classroom teachers, students and parents reduce sleep deprivation in children and adolescents.
The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ).
RELATED COVERAGE:
Times of India