Sleep problems in people with ADHD are extremely common. Sleep is a self-regulation task and ADHD fundamentally affects self-regulation.

In adult clinic data, about 60% of people with ADHD screened positive for at least one sleep disorder.

Common ADHD sleep problems include:

• Delayed sleep phase symptoms
• Insomnia
• Sleep apnea
• Restless Legs/PLMD

A study found that delayed sleep phase and evening chronotype are significantly more common in people with ADHD. Chronotype is the body’s natural schedule for feeling awake or tired. It is why some people are labelled ‘early birds’ or ‘night owls’ and it is controlled by your internal biological clock, affecting more that just sleep. Your Chronotype also determines when you’re in a good mood, when you’re hungry, and when you’re feeling physically at your strongest.

Historically, humans used to live by light and dark, but society today runs on industrial time with nine-to-five work schedules and structured timetables. Neurodiverse bodies struggle to keep to those schedules, causing more sleep problems in people with ADHD and autism.

The melatonin onset – the hormonal signal that prepares the body for sleep – often occurs one to two hours later than in non-ADHD populations, making people with ADHD often run on a later schedule for sleep.

If someone has ADHD, it’s far more statistically likely they fall in the ‘night owl’ category. This is because the brain wants to fall asleep and wake up later than society expects.

This makes early mornings and work schedules a daily battle with the body’s biology.

There are also diagnosable sleep problems that are more likely to occur in people with ADHD, like insomnia and sleep apnea, which will require discussions with a doctor for treatment.

If you're looking for support on your sleep or neurodiversity, join a Community that gets it. The ADHD Sleep Club is more than a place to learn about sleep, it’s a space to feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger. We’re building a growing community of people who understand how ADHD shapes rest, energy, and everyday life.

By joining, you’ll get access to evolving resources, workshops, and lived experience shared in real time. You’ll find shared language, encouragement, and stories that remind you you’re not navigating this alone.