(April 7, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Sleep problems are a common issue for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can lead to school problems for the children and even work issues for their parents, according to research published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Here are some facts about ADHD:

•    It is a behavioral disorder that is usually first diagnosed in childhood. It is characterized by difficulties with maintaining attention and controlling impulsivity and hyperactivity.

•    ADHD is the most common mental disorder of childhood.

•    While some children with ADHD may be able to cope with behavior modification treatment, some may require medication or even a combined approach.

Researchers from the Centre for Community Child Health in Parkville, Australia studied the families of 239 children with ADHD. The average age of the children was about 12 years old. The investigators interviewed the families, asking about the presence of sleep problems among the children affected by ADHD as well as how these sleep problems impacted the family members.

Overall, nearly three-quarters of the children suffered from sleep problems, with nearly half having problems considered moderate to severe. Some of these disturbances included difficulty falling asleep, resisting going to bed, and tiredness on waking. The children with sleep problems were more likely to be late for or even miss school, and their primary caregivers were more likely to be late for work.

Today's research highlights the need to address sleep problems in children with ADHD, since these problems are both common and have a significant impact on the children and their parents.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.