Are Sleep Disorders Often Mistaken for ADHD?

PostedSeptember 12, 2025

UpdatedSeptember 12, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Victoria Rowe, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Yes, sleep disorders misdiagnosed as ADHD are a common issue. The symptoms of various sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome, often overlap with ADHD symptoms, leading to potential ADHD misdiagnosis. Many individuals with ADHD struggle with sleep issues like difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restless sleep, which can be mistaken for core ADHD symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, or irritability.

How Sleep Disorders Overlap with ADHD Symptoms

Both ADHD and sleep disorders can cause daytime fatigue, difficulty focusing, and emotional dysregulation, which can blur the lines between the two conditions. For example:

Sleep apnea

This can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, which may be misinterpreted as inattention or lack of focus, key symptoms of ADHD.

Insomnia or disrupted sleep

This can lead to irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating, mimicking ADHD-related emotional dysregulation and focus issues.

Restless legs syndrome

This can cause discomfort at night, leading to poor-quality sleep and daytime sleepiness, which might be seen as hyperactivity or restlessness.

Why the Misdiagnosis Happens

Sleep disorder overlaps with ADHD can lead to a misdiagnosis if a thorough evaluation is not conducted. Focusing only on ADHD symptoms can mean that underlying sleep disorders are overlooked. Poor sleep may also intensify ADHD-like behaviours, making it even more difficult to distinguish between the two.

How to Ensure Accurate Diagnosis

If sleep disturbances are suspected, it is important to have a proper sleep assessment to rule out conditions such as sleep apnoea or insomnia. A comprehensive assessment that looks at both ADHD symptoms and potential sleep disorders will help ensure an accurate diagnosis and lead to the most effective treatment plan.

By recognising that sleep disorders misdiagnosed ADHD can impact diagnosis and treatment, individuals can receive appropriate care for both conditions.For more on ADHD misdiagnosis and the sleep disorder overlap, reach out to providers like ADHD Certify.

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to Sleep disorders.

Victoria Rowe, MSc

Author

Victoria Rowe is a health psychologist with a Master’s in Health Psychology and a BS in Applied Psychology. She has experience as a school psychologist, conducting behavioural assessments, developing individualized education plans (IEPs), and supporting children’s mental health. Dr. Rowe has contributed to peer-reviewed research on mental health, including studies on anxiety disorders and the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems. Skilled in SPSS, Minitab, and academic writing, she is committed to advancing psychological knowledge and promoting well-being through evidence-based practice.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.