Could It Be More Than ADHD?
Aug 28, 2025
It’s not uncommon for parents and teachers to notice that a child has trouble paying attention, staying on task, or managing their energy throughout the day. Often, this leads to concerns about ADHD or ADD. While those diagnoses are very real and affect many children, research shows that some kids are misdiagnosed when the root issue is something completely different: sleep quality and oral function.
Imagine trying to sit still, concentrate, and learn new information after a night of tossing and turning. Adults know how hard this can be — and it’s no different for children.
Children with orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) often struggle with:
Mouth breathing
Snoring or restless sleep
Sleep-disordered breathing
Low tongue posture
These issues can lead to fragmented, poor-quality sleep. A tired brain simply cannot focus the way a rested brain can. Sometimes, what looks like “attention problems” is actually sleep deprivation in disguise.
The tongue isn’t just for eating and speaking — it plays an important role in how our nervous system regulates itself.
When the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth, it provides consistent sensory input that helps calm and organize the brain. Without this input — for example, if the tongue rests low in the mouth or against the teeth — the brain may not get the steady feedback it needs.
The result? Kids may appear fidgety, distracted, or impulsive, not because of a behavioral disorder, but because their bodies aren’t getting the signals needed for focus and self-regulation.
Myofunctional therapy addresses the root causes:
Strengthening oral muscles
Training proper tongue posture
Encouraging nasal breathing
Supporting better sleep and focus
By helping children breathe, sleep, and swallow the way their bodies were designed to, we often see improvements in focus, learning, and behavior — without unnecessary medication or mislabeling.
If you notice a child who:
Breathes through their mouth during the day
Snores at night or seems tired in the morning
Has difficulty sitting still or paying attention
Struggles with speech, feeding, or orthodontic relapse
…it may be worth considering whether an underlying myofunctional issue is contributing.
ADHD and ADD are important diagnoses that deserve care and support. But sometimes, what looks like ADHD is actually a symptom of poor sleep or oral dysfunction. Identifying these issues early can change the course of a child’s development, learning, and overall well-being.