Obstructive Sleep Apnea Mimics Attention Deficit Disorder

We report on a 17-year-old, slender, non-snoring male who presented to his pediatrician with a prolonged history of four complaints: inattention, fidgeting, frequent sinusitis, and somnolence. He was diagnosed with ADHD, while the somnolence, which often abated somewhat upon use of antibiotics for sinusitis, was attributed to the sinus infections. A later sleep study revealed OSA, and thorough additional testing proved that the original ADHD diagnosis was in error. All four conditions were allayed with proper use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

Source: Journal of Attention Disorders - December 17, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Blesch, L., Breese McCoy, S. J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research