This episode of the Tilt Parenting Podcast is ALL about sleep! Specifically, sleep challenges in kids with ADHD. My guest is Dr. Roberto Olivardia, a Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer at Harvard Medical School, who specializes in the treatment of ADHD, OCD, and BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) as well as the associated issues that stem from learning disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep dysfunction. Dr. Olivardia is an especially compelling expert on this topic, as he is not only the parent of a child with ADHD, he himself has an ADHD diagnosis. And in conjunction, has experience with multiple sleep issues, both personally and as a parent.
In our conversation, we discuss common sleep problems for children (and adults) with ADHD, techniques and strategies that are often helpful, the impact of ADHD medication on sleep and the use of melatonin for children, and much more. While we focus on ADHD in particular, so many of the sleep challenges that we discuss will likely be familiar to almost all parents, as it’s the rare parent who manages to raise a child without experiencing sleep issues of some sort, or so it seems. I hope this conversation leads to healthier sleep habits for you and your families.
About Dr. Olivardia: Dr. Roberto Olivardia is a Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He maintains a private practice in Lexington,MA where he specializes in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), as well as issues that face students with learning disabilities (anxiety, depression, self-esteem). He is an internationally recognized expert in eating disorders and body image problems in boys and men. He has appeared in publications such as TIME, GQ, and Rolling Stone, and has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, and VH1. He currently serves on the Professional Advisory Boards for Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD), The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) and the National Association for Males with Eating Disorders. He is also on the Scientific Advisory Board for ADDitude Magazine, as well as a Featured Expert on Understood.org. He is an active member of Decoding Dyslexia-Massachusetts.
THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:
- What brain integration is and how challenges can result when integration isn’t developing as well as it could be
- Why kids with ADHD are prone to sleep problems
- What are the different factors that cause sleep problems in kids with ADHD (biological, behavioral, and psychological)
- What are the different types of sleep challenges kids and adults with ADHD might experience
- How ADHD medication impacts sleep
- Dr. Olivardia’s thoughts on melatonin as a sleep aid for kids
- How sleep deprivation impacts health and well-being
- Techniques and strategies for kids and adults with adhd to improve their sleep
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Dr Olivardia’s email: roberto_olivardia@hms.harvard.edu
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