Sleep disorder investigation might be considered to be mandatory in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder guideline

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and compare amplitude and latency of the P300 potential among children with and without OSA. Method Sixty-one children with ADHD underwent oddball auditory attention tests for detection of P300 (ERPs) followed by an all-night polysomnography. The children were divided in two groups, those with and without OSA. Results Significant decreased amplitude of the P300 potential was observed in children with OSA when compared with children without OSA. Conclusion The study showed that sleep fragmentation as a result of OSA can exacerbate the attention disorder that characterizes ADHD, and highlights the importance of assessing the presence of OSA in the differential diagnosis of children with attention deficits.

Keywords

• obstructive sleep apnea
• event-related potential
• P300 potential
• attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity