06/07/2026
Does your child have ADHD? Before you assume medication is the answer, let’s talk about sleep.
I can’t tell you how many families come in with a child diagnosed with ADHD who is also severely sleep deprived. And here’s the thing — poor sleep looks exactly like ADHD.
A child who isn’t sleeping well can’t focus in class, control impulses, regulate emotions, sit still, or follow directions. Sound familiar? That’s often not ADHD. That’s a tired kid.
This is the first pillar of the SHARED Protocol. Before we assess for ADHD or consider medication, we dig into how much sleep your child is actually getting each night, what time they’re going to bed and waking up, if they’re waking during the night, if they snore or seem to stop breathing, and if their legs are restless at night.
Optimizing sleep can be transformational. I’ve seen kids’ ADHD symptoms improve dramatically just by fixing their sleep schedule and ruling out sleep disorders.
If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or you’re wondering if they should be evaluated, sleep is where we start.
Next week in the SHARED Protocol series, we’re diving into History — the medical and developmental background that shapes everything.
(724) 374-4037
www.dshpsychoeducationalservices.com
Dr. Scot Harvey, PsyD, CSP
DSH Psychoeducational Services
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