Why does my adhd child want to sleep all the time?

Question

I have a 13 year old son who is adhd. He goes to bed at 8:00 p.m and gets up at 6:00 a.m. but then every time I turn around he is sleeping! I got a call from the school today telling me how he slept through most of the day at school and this isn't the first time. Does anyone out there have a child that seems to go through this also?

Answer 1

Well first, he isn't ADHD.  Hyperactivity and sleepiness are opposites.

Does he snore at night?  Could be sleep apnea.  If he goes to bed at 8, and stays there for 10 hours but never gets into REM sleep, he will fall asleep all day long, won't be able to concentrate, and have a myriad of other problems.

So get a second opinion from a real doctor, and make sure to tell them about these issues.  Sleep Apnea can be life threatening.

Answer 2

Maybe you should take him out to places or take him to his parents

Answer 3

talk to his doctor. it could be the meds they are giving him.

Answer 4

it sounds to me like maybe a clinical depression problem instead of a problem with the ADHD. When I was that age I just could not stay awake in classes at school, no matter what I tried. I even sat there pinching the bridge of my nose in the effort to stay awake, and it all failed. I slept plenty. there were times that I slept from 4-8, did some homework and grabbed some dinner, then slept from 10-6am. that is 12 hours!! It finally subsided some after I started on Prozac for my depression.

ask the doctor about putting him on a mild antidepressant for a few months and see what happens. It also might be time to see about putting him on a low dose of meds for his ADHD. Anymore they have so many that are NOT ritalin. My son has been on 5 I think (at different times) including a patch called Daytrana. Daytrana goes on the kids hip in the morning, and gets taken off 9 hours later (generally after school).

Answer 5

is he on medication?

Answer 6

i think you should change which med you are using because the current one is terrible.

Answer 7

I don't have a child that's adhd, but I do have a husband who is.  He doesn't necessarily sleep all the time, but he has definite moments or hours of all out laziness.  I suspect it is exhausting to be constantly struggling to keep his mind clear and in focus.  Is your son on medication, and if so, could that be the culprit?

Answer 8

This should be brought up with a doctor, not on the internet! people may have different encounters with this do not trust people you do not know. Chances are these are mental problems. My 5th grade daughter tells me about similar encounters, too.

Answer 9

I don't know if he is on medication but that will make them sleep.

Answer 10

michy - Does your child take meds for his condition?  If so, speak to his doctor about adjusting dosage.

Answer 11

He might have a problem with his thyroid. Take him to his doctor.

Answer 12

if he's on meds then you need to contact his doc because he's having a not so good reaction to it. i took care of a boy with adhd for 3 years and it was h**l getting him to ever sleep, and the same thing with my neice who also is adhd.