"Not Another Type of ADHD!"

8 Comments: "Not Another Type of ADHD!"

1. I have ADHD and had a sleep study 8 years ago showing mild sleep apnea (1 obstructive apneic event and the others were central), severely limited deep Non REM sleep, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. I also have Restless Leg Syndrome which is better when my ferritin levels are normal. And I have always been tired and sluggish as long as I can remember. My new pulmonologist wonders if I have narcolepsy and so I am going to get a new sleep study. I have always wondered how many of us with the more sluggish type of adhd have underlying sleep disorders. My psych NP reminded me that the deep Non Rem sleep is what projects the brain from dementia and helps with memory. Awesome. I have absolutely no memory and it just gets worse as I age, esp my working memory.

2. Radaanak, I had a similar thought. That said, I feel like this article describes both my son and myself. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was in my late 30s and had a child who was diagnosed with ADD. I still feel incredibly lethargic every single morning when I wake up and it takes several cups of coffee and at least an hour before I’m ready to face the day. Exercise and getting outside helps me the most. As a pediatric OT I have found that incorporating heavy work activities (for me – running, hiking and weight lifting) helps to increase arousal levels. So perhaps some of the symptoms that are being described are attributed to sensory processing.

3. Everyone, here is my concern. I could be way out in left field on this…however keep in mind it is only an opinion…and I’ve had plenty of wrong one’s in my life. Is anyone else concerned we are having too many ‘disorders’ identified? In the past X (meaning I don’t know exactly how many)…years it seems like anything that appears as a character flaw, or quirk, or personal idiosyncrasy gets it’s own ‘disorder’ or ‘syndrome’. My concern is it takes away from real disorders…and those that don’t have any (yeah right) use it to downplay the significance of legitimate one’s…e.g. – ADD, OCD, etc.

   Just a thought and a question. Thanks.

4. I’m pretty sure I have this and have had it for 40 + years. Tired all the time..take a long time to do tasks especially written work and am easily distracted with little motivation. I wish they would make it an official diagnosis and work on treatments. Stimulants help but I have become tolerant to them after 4 years.

5. kb… I couldn’t agree more!
   I have narcolepsy and ADD and am very interested in this topic/article.
   Would love to know more as it becomes available.

6. This notion between a family connection of narcolepsy and ADHD is so helpful. I would like to read more research and best practice articles. Our adult daughter has struggled with symptoms of both and because she did not come to us via birth we have limited health history or birth family support. We want to help her but she is difficult at best of times. Her personality changed as she entered mid teens. Didn’t know there was a genetic test for narcolepsy. Can someone expand. Thank you.

7. Not that it has to be either or, CDD or sleep disorder – but in my family we have a genetic predisposition to both ADHD AND narcolepsy and/or hyper somnolence. Narcoleptic tendencies can be suspected via symptoms, a genetic test, a family member with a diagnosis and confirmed through a sleep test. I keep hoping that the relationship between these genetically passed neurotypical differences will be addressed by the ADHD community because I find that stimulants are certainly helpful both for focus and staying awake but they come at a cost that is hard to overcome. I can’t sleep at night which makes me foggy and strung out during the day. I guess I’m looking for a community who has figured out how to make it work.

8. Finally a diagnose for our son’s disorder
   All symptoms, every single one.