Does your ADHD child have difficulty falling asleep at night? You might want to keep the computer shut and encourage your child to put his or her mobile phone on silent mode as well. According to a new study from the JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, sending text messages and using other electronic communication devices during bedtime can aggravate ADHD symptoms the following morning.
This pilot study obtained data from 40 JFK Sleep Clinic patients aged 8 to 22, using a modified version of the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. They were found to send an average of 33.5 text messages or emails after bedtime (10 minutes to four hours after they went to bed). The average participant would wake up once a night because of an incoming text messages. Those who could not fall asleep right away ended up using the Internet during this period.
The researchers observed that using these technologies late at night worsened insomnia, which increases the rate of cognitive or mood problems the following morning. Those who were kept awake by text messaging also experienced more learning difficulties, depression, and anxiety. These findings are particularly worrisome for those with ADHD, who already have enough difficulties paying attention and functioning well in school without being kept awake all night.
This study is certainly not the first to point out the effects of sleep problems on ADHD. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, school-age children need to sleep at least 10 to 11 hours each night. Those who do not get enough sleep experience difficulties concentrating, mood problems, and slower reaction times the following day. Poor sleep also increases the risk for childhood obesity, as the hormones that regulate the metabolism are released according to the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Disrupting this cycle affects these hormone levels and throws them out of whack.
What this research does show is that technology has a more significant impact on our children’s sleep habits than we think. Here are some ways you can prevent technology keeping your child up at night:
- Keep all computers, laptops, and television monitors outside your child’s bedroom.
- Shut off the Internet connection before bedtime so your child won’t try to go online in the middle of the night.
- Remind your child to keep his or her mobile phone on silent mode before going to bed. If possible, encourage your child to keep the phone shut.