It may seem unlikely to think that your child’s breathing may be a real issue behind your child being diagnosed with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (Referred To As ADHD); however, it is possible. In the likelihood that your child is a mouth breather (during sleep) and has also been diagnosed with ADHD, you may have received an inaccurate diagnosis

According to How A Child’s Breathing Problem Can Be Misdiagnosed As ADHD, an article written by Dr. Ami Barkat. “More than half of the people diagnosed with ADHD are mouth breathers. That is too significant a statistic to be a coincidence.” Understanding the connecting between mouth breathing and ADHD can help your child get the treatment they need.  Visit Villanova Dental Studio for a one on one consultation with Stittsville dentist Dr. Ami Barakat.

What is ADHD?

Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children.

Symptoms of ADHD

• Inability To Pay Attention
  • This can affect your child’s ability to focus on tasks with simple instructions causing them to be unable to complete the due task or instructions.
• Hyperactivity
  • This can cause your child to constantly be on the move, and seem fidgety at most times, specifically when they are needing to be in class focusing on their school work.
• Impulsivity
  • This can result in acts to be done out of impulse and without any thought prior to acting.

Will My Child Be Affected By ADHD, and When Will I Know About It?

An estimated 8.4 percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults have ADHD and is often first identified in school-aged children as it tends to lead to disruption in the classroom or problems with schoolwork. It is more common among boys than girls.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Breathing Through His or Her Mouth?

Of course, you can physically watch your child sleep to see if they are sleeping through their mouth. However, this would likely be the most difficult option as you and your child are most likely are the same schedule. So, here are some signs to look for in your child which can help identify mouth breathing.

• Snoring
• Dry Mouth
• Bad Breath (Medically Called Halitosis)
• Hoarseness
• Waking Up Tired and Irritable
• Chronic Fatigue
• Brain Fog (Often Dazed)
• Dark Circles Under The Eyes

What’s The Link?

Many of the same symptoms for ADHD are also the same symptoms for those mouth breathers. The rate of diagnosis of ADHD has risen 15% according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We recommend that if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, make sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ami Barakat so he can make sure that your child has been properly diagnosed with ADHD. It is worth the time to check if your child has been misdiagnosed, simply because of the amount of the medication that is prescribed with a diagnosis of ADHD.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION

Dr. Ami Barakat, a dentist, and author of Perfecting Smiles, Changing lives, can help properly identify if your child has been misdiagnosed with ADHD. If your child has been in our Stittsville dentist office. To schedule one for you or your child, contact us at (613) 836-9084 or request an appointment online.