Medically reviewed by Daniel Atkinson GP Clinical Lead
Reading time: 2 min
Uploaded on: September 16, 2026
ADHD and sleep apnoea are deeply interconnected. 95% of people with sleep apnoea display some signs of attention difficulties (even if it’s not full blown ADHD) and up to one-third of those diagnosed with ADHD may also have sleep apnoea.[1]
The effects of sleep apnoea on ADHD
To make matters worse, sleep apnoea can also amplify ADHD symptoms. The repeated pauses in breathing fragment your sleep and prevent the brain from entering REM (restorative sleep), leading to daytime fatigue. This can overlap and worsen ADHD symptoms like distractibility, irritability, mood swings, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (see the table above for more info on shared symptoms).
So if someone has both conditions, untreated sleep apnoea can make it feel like their ADHD is getting worse, even though part of the problem is actually the disrupted sleep.
The capacity for misdiagnosis
In other cases, sleep apnoea is more than just ‘part of the problem’. Research suggests that as many as 1 in 4 children diagnosed with ADHD may actually suffer from sleep apnoea instead.[2] Sleep apnoea could be a common reason for ADHD misdiagnosis because some of its symptoms, like fatigue, inattention, and irritability, can closely mimic ADHD.
I have symptoms of both – what should I do?
If you notice symptoms of both ADHD and sleep apnoea (which isn’t at all uncommon, since they can overlap), it’s a good idea to:
- Get a professional ADHD assessment and a sleep study to check for breathing interruptions if you think you might also have sleep apnoea.
- Explore treatment for sleep apnoea, if you have it, because this can dramatically improve ADHD symptoms.
Treatment for sleep apnoea might include:
- CPAP therapy, which uses a mask that gently pumps pressurised air into your mouth or nose while you sleep to keep your airways open
- Making lifestyle changes, like ensuring your bedroom is dark and quiet, having a regular sleep schedule where you go to bed and wake up around the same time each day, exercising regularly, and sleeping on your side instead of on your back
- Surgery, in some cases - for example, to remove large tonsils
- Losing weight for people with overweight or obesity
Once sleep improves and fatigue is reduced, ADHD symptoms can be better addressed with therapy like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), treatment, or behavioural strategies – these may have a better success rate after the sleep issues are resolved.
- Youssef, N.A., et al. (2011). Is obstructive sleep apnea associated with ADHD? Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 23(3), pp.213–224.
- Naseem, S., Chaudhary, B. and Collop, N. (2001). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Chest, 119(1), pp.294–296.
Reading time: 2 min
Uploaded on: September 16, 2026
Medically reviewed by Daniel Atkinson GP Clinical Lead Registered with GMC (4624794) September 16, 2026 Meet Daniel Atkinson
