HI all I'm new here with a few questions.
My 7 yr old son has had difficulties for about 4 years now. He was sorta dx with adhd.I say sorta because noone actually SAID he had it but implied based on his screening and testing.  He had his tonsils and adnoids removed 2 years ago because they were huge. Of course he was not officially dx with sleep apnea but they did that procedure anyways. Noone wants to really pinpoint what the problem is. I have researched both problems and they have similar symptoms. My son has several from both lists. I print them off then high light the ones he has. I'm wondering what to do at this point. He has seen ENT doc, child pyschiatrist(has taken Lithium(mood stabilizer),ritalin,adderall,claritin for allergies) He is currently med free. I try really hard to work with him but he is short tempered and moody. He does snore and  changes postions alot when he sleeps. He complains of a dry mouth and throat upon waking up in the morning. Which leadsd me to believe he is sleeping with his mouth wide open. He has a humidifier in  his room at night. We even put Vick's under his nose to help keep him clear. Anyy help would  be greatly appreciated.

PS He has another appt with his ped. tomorrow...so I hope she can help us....

Hi Zach's Mom,

We moderators have been very remiss in checking the pediatric section and I apologize for that.  I am wondering how things are going with Zach.  As opposed to adults, in children a tonsillectomy has a high success rate of curing sleep apnea if that is the problem.  The success rate isn't 100% because there can be other causes.  Those lists do overlap.  You might try finding an accredited sleep doc who works with pediatric patients.  To find sleep docs., look in the top links in this section.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Hi,
Wow!  You really have your hands full!
I was searching for something on the pediatric forum and saw your post.  Wish that I could tell you something really encouraging.  But after teaching at a school specializing in ADHD and Dyslexia as well as being the parent of a 7 year old with a mixed apnea, I can tell you that the ADHD and apnea would be very difficult to tell apart in a six year old.  
Some questions for you:
1) Is it possible that he actually has either central apnea (rare) or a mixed apnea?  Is it possible to get a formal sleep study done on him (provided you think he will cooperate)?
2) Is it possible that he has a chiara malformation?  Be aware that this is going to be medically interpreted as a desperate stretch by many MDs.  A few months back a very small study was done which suggested that the two are linked.  Chiara is where the brain stem sits a little two low and is sometimes being pressed upon by the atlas (very top vertebrae of the spine).  My child has a slight one.  It would make sense for the two to be linked as the brain stem plays such a major role in sleep, but since I believe both pediatric SA and chiara are *much* more prevalent than most realize, I think it will take a while for any link to be proven.  So, I offer that as a long shot, but a possibility.  (By the way, we have no intention of doing anything about the chiara and would not suggest it unless the situation were dire.  It is extremely risky surgery from what I understand).
3.) Has iron deficiency and restless leg syndrome been ruled out?  They can stimulate enough night time movement to keep someone from going through the proper cycles of sleep.
4) You said that he was taking something for allergies.  I have no idea where you are, but you can search out Dr. Alan Lieberman of the Center for Environmental and Occupational Medicine in Charleston SC.  He has a site which might prove of interest.  Also, Dr. L will (by phone - used to be a free consult- don't know about now) refer you to the closest clinic/Dr that he thinks might be able to help if you are unable to travel.  He was a pediatrician who began to research the affects of pesticides and other things on Dyslexic (and ADHD?) children.  He is, of course, also an allergist.  Very reputable and well respected.  I ran an allergy dept for a while, and although my boss loathed to do children, I did learn that an RX for allergies only masks the symptoms.  The allergies grow worse every year.  When the RX quits working (they all do eventually), you are faced with allergies worse than what you started with.  That very unpopular option - injections- takes an average of five to seven years to desensitize (turn off) the allergy forever.  If it is possible to do injections, it is highly recommended.  Many of my students went on to begin a regimen of shots when they came into our school, and left the meds behind.
Okay.  I can't think of anything to add to all of this on the apnea side.  Now for the dyslexia side...
1)  First - An big Israeli study published last year linked school performance to...you guessed it...sleep problems.  Not an earthshattering idea, but it was received like one.  So, no matter what your child's age, chronic sleep problems are going to make things more difficult than normal in the way of academics.
2.)  Six sounds pretty young to have already been labeled ADHD.  I am wondering where the dx came from- a GP doctor? A neurologist?  Okay.  Now that I re-read your post, he hasn't been officially diagnosed.  It sounds as if none of the things prescribed worked out.  Because ADHD has become "an epidemic", I would suggest you contact some very, very reputable people before you trust a diagnosis.  It sounds like a broken record to say that it is a *very* misunderstood condition, but it is.   How did he end up on adderall and ritalin without a dx of ADHD?  Are the prescribers going purely by behavioral symptoms?  Anyone who suffers from sleep deprivation will display lots of ADHD symptoms.  The side effects from the drugs themselves can be enough to throw a kid out of whack for quite a while.  
Here are two very reputable organizations which you might be interested in.  I have worked with one, and hope to train to work with the other:
Woodland Hall Academy/ Tallahassee, Florida.  Ask for who they recommend in your area or what literature they would recommend.
National Institute of Learning Disabilities (on the web).  This is a national group that specializes in Educational Therapy for students with learning disabilities.  WHA (above) also does Ed Therapy, but it is only here in Tallahassee.  
3.)  As a teacher of "normal" students, ADHD, Dyslexic, and "gifted" students, both on and off meds, both in and out of tutoring, IF sleep apnea is totally and thoroughly ruled out first and you find yourself looking for a way to help your son, I can not exhort you enough to find a reputable Educational Therapist and commit to the long road of educational therapy.  I have never, ever heard a parent say that it was easy, but I have never, ever heard them say that it wasn't the best decision that they made for their child.  If your son is ADHD and/or Dyslexic, then Ed Therapy provides a chance to actually force a physical connection within the brain through intensive therapy.  ADHD/Dyslexia results from a lack of "normal" neural connections in the brain, so that processing of takes a longer, more concentrated effort.  Proper EdTherapy actually creates those connections in the neurons of the brain - no drugs, no surgery - just lots of work.  The result is a student who understands that they CAN do "it", although they may have to work harder.  They are not in tears if they miss their "be good pill" in the morning, and they don't blame a lack of meds or the tutor when they stumble academically.  Instead they look for another way to tackle it.  They tend to become pretty tenacious when it comes to overcoming difficulties, as well.

Anyhow.  I am sorry for being so overwhelming.  I really felt for you when I read your post.  I asked my husband to read over this for input and he highlighted the most important thing.  
Until you rule out sleep apnea, none of your testing for LD or behavioral issues has a chance to be accurate.
If he is positive for sleep problems and you treat that, then you will very, very likely find that any other problems will become more manageable.

I hope something in this helps.  It sounds as if you have had a very, very long road already.


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Joy