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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

ADHD and sleep...

13 replies

Puffykins · 04/12/2023 07:40

DS is 13, in year 9. He was diagnosed with ADHD and autism in year 6 but is high functioning etc. Recently however the ADHD seems to have got much worse, and I think a lot of it is to do with lack of sleep. He just doesn't sleep. We've removed all tech/ screens - he has a hot bath before bed, but he skulks around the house after I've gone to sleep, frequently finding tech (last night he took DDs phone which was beside my bed, and used Chat GPT to do his maths homework at 1 o'clock in the morning. Which I'm also seriously unimpressed by. But that's by the by.) It's affecting his schoolwork (grades have slipped) etc. I try to find books for him to read but I don't think he can focus on them (either way he's not really reading at the moment and he used to read lots) - what do I do?

He's on the waiting list for CAHMS (and has been for a year) because he wants to try ADHD medication - not that there is any so CAHMS have stopped all appointments about it even. Is this normal? Has anyone found a way of mitigating it?

I feel so certain that if he just got 8 hours sleep a night it would make such a huge difference. He currently gets around 5 I reckon. If that. He can sleep for longer at weekends (he'd sleep all day) but he has clubs he has to get up for so only gets an extra hour's lie-in (which at least means his body-clock is theoretically not put out of sync.) The minute we get in the car to drive somewhere though, he falls asleep. So I KNOW he's exhausted.

OP posts:
Original poster
Puffykins · 04/12/2023 07:47

To clarify, end of second paragraph, I wasn't asking if it was normal for CAHMS (I know it is.) I meant is the sleeplessness normal.

OP posts:
Brendabigbaps · 04/12/2023 07:56

there is no real solution to adhd and sleep issues unfortunately.
tech is definitely not going to help, if he has a habit of hunting it out when your in bed I’d be locking it away. Also turn off all the blue light for when he does use tech.
sleep clinic suggested doing relaxing activities like colouring, puzzles etc before bed rather than screens. These can also help whilst in bed if he’s not reading.
try relaxation podcasts etc whilst he’s in bed.

we also use melatonin gummies a max of 3 nights a week to help her to sleep earlier for those nights, it’s 3 nights where she gets more sleep which definitely helps with the exhaustion
you shouldn’t use melatonin every night as you do get used to it.

Original poster
Puffykins · 04/12/2023 09:13

@Brendabigbaps thank you - yes - we will definitely be doing a better job of locking it away going forward. And thank you re the melatonin gummies - I'll look into them.

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 04/12/2023 12:11

We use melatonin gummies - normally 1mg ones, but have some 2.5mg ones as well. We order them online from the US and takes about a week to get here.

DD (14) has always needed very little sleep since she was born, but about 12-18 months ago started to say she couldn't fall asleep anymore as her mind was racing too much and she couldn't stop thinking. Melatonin has really helped - but they do need to be trying to sleep... it's not a sedative that will knock them out. If you take them and keep doing something involving concentration or distraction then you can work past the 30 minute window you have with them.

BlueBrick · 04/12/2023 17:19

I third trying melatonin. If that doesn’t work there are other medications e.g. promethazine you could try too.

Does DS do exercise/sports clubs after school as well as at weekends? If not, it is worth adding in some exercise during the week too.

Phineyj · 04/12/2023 17:56

DD's been on melatonin (2mg slow release) for 3 years now and she's not habituated to it at all. I suspect people with ADHD make less melatonin naturally.

Definitely worth a try.

Original poster
Puffykins · 05/12/2023 00:53

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate all of it. He gets exercise as in getting too and from school (a mile walk each way) and PE at school - but that's about it. He's very musical and plays 3 instruments and is in orchestra and choir, which rather takes up all extra curricular time. There's also very little around us in the winter - in the summer it's easier as it's light after school and we can swim in the sea etc.

OP posts:
BlueBrick · 05/12/2023 10:14

It is worth adding in some exercise if possible.

Sunnydays41 · 07/12/2023 20:30

Is it the fact that he struggles to get to sleep though, or is it the fact that going to sleep is boring and he procrastinates about it and would rather be doing other things?

I still have this issue to some extent, but when I was at uni, I would often stay up until 2am (even when I had 9am lectures, getting up when I made it was torture, yet it didn't stop the habit), would be tired, but I would just be faffing around on the internet instead of going to bed, just because that was more 'fun'.

Just the way you say he's wandering around; does he try to go to sleep in the first place?

11plusNewbie · 17/12/2023 22:29

melatonin every school night, possibly stopping during holidays or wee-end, unless he really needs it, if his body gets used to it after a while you can still increase the dose a few times, subject to Dr's approval, then you will probably have to take a break at some point to reset things.
should be really helpful

MsLumley · 21/12/2023 11:50

My DS (14) is also having sleep problems which I suspect is linked to (currently undiagnosed) ADHD. Those that are using melatonin gummies, are you getting them from the Dr or elsewhere? I’m struggling to find anywhere online.

Phineyj · 21/12/2023 14:02

We had melatonin prescribed by a paediatrician and the GP then took it on.

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