Seems like about half the kids in schools are ADHD - some medicated, and some not. Some studies show a bedwetting and ADHD go hand in hand - what do you think?

What exactly is the connection between enuresis and ADD?

Many of these kids take medication for ADHD. It's aimed at helping with impulse control. Bedwetting can definitely be seen as an impulse control problem! For whatever reason (deep sleep, small bladder, heredity), a child's brain doesn't recognize the bladder's signals that it's time to go.

Kids with ADHD have a hard time paying attention and staying on-task and organized. The diagnosis is kind of an umbrella term, though - and the symptoms vary from kid to kid. It affects about 4% of children, and probably about that many adults, too. There also may be a hereditary factor here.

So what's the connection? A study several years ago in the Southern Medical Journal (1997), compared groups of 6-year olds. Half had ADHD. The study showed that the ADHD group had 2.7 times higher incidence of bedwetting than the control group.

Bedwetting's no picnic for any child (or the family!). Neither is ADHD. But combine the two, and this poor kid is going to have an especially hard time coping. He (and it's overwhelmingly the boys - but there are girls, too) already feels different from his friends, because of the bedwetting. But add onto that the behavioral problems common with ADHD, and he could have an even harder time.

The combination of enuresis and ADHD is often treated with medication and behavioral techniques. It's even more important in this case to avoid punishment. Provide a supportive environment, and do all you can to help your child feel safe and loved.

If you think (or know) your child has ADHD, you really need to educate yourself about it. There's lots of confusing information out there - and a lot of pressure to medicate. Sometimes it's the best plan, but not always. Here's a great resource so you can learn more about ADD/ADHD and bedwetting.