A sleep expert says new research suggests some patients diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may just be suffering from a sleep disorder.

The study was revealed last month at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress in Paris.

Data suggests that about 1 in 10 kids is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder every year. Those diagnosed are often prescribed medication to treat it.

Dr. Sabrina Magid-Katz says the symptoms of ADHD and sleep disorders can be similar. They can range from the inability to focus to poor school performance to aggressive behavior.

Magid-Katz says if an underlying sleep disorder is fixed, the ADHD symptoms can disappear and medication may not be necessary. She says the treatment for the disorder can be as simple as wearing a special retainer at night.

“We can change their growth and the position of the soft tissue in their throat. We can change position of their teeth and jaws,” she says.