STIMULANTS are the last thing you would want to give to a person suffering from a lack of sleep, yet that may be what is happening to some kids diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In some cases, what looks like ADHD is actually a behavioural problem linked to an undiagnosed sleep disorder (see “Sleep well, keep sane”).
Instead of Ritalin, some kids just need an operation to clear their airways. With worries that Ritalin may be addictive in those who don’t have ADHD, the need to investigate thoroughly before reaching for drugs is clear.
