Pediatric Sleep Disorders and the Issues They Present

What Is Pediatric Sleep Disorder

sleepmedicineblog February 28, 2022

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What Is Pediatric Sleep Disorder

Sleep disorders in children and adolescents are common these days; even infants can have sleep disorders. Studies have shown that poor sleep quality and/or quantity in children is associated with a host of problems, including academic, behavioral, developmental, and social difficulties, weight abnormalities, and various other health problems.

Not only do pediatric sleep problems affect child health, but they may also impact family dynamics and parental or sibling sleep.

Children may suffer from problems while falling or staying asleep; physiological problems such as obstructive sleep apnea, abnormal or disruptive behaviors during sleep- sleepwalking or other parasomnias symptoms that occur while sleep onset, such as restless legs syndrome, and daytime symptoms such as excessive sleepiness, cataplexy and others.

While adults may suffer from the same problems, the etiology, presentation, and associated symptoms in children may be very different from those seen in adults. In addition, developmental aspects of childhood play a vital role in pediatric sleep, such as in the cases of early childhood insomnias and adolescent delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Quality sleep is important for both adults and children. But usually, people don’t get adequate rest. For example, it can be hard for parents to know whether a child who struggles with sleep is simply growing up or has a sleep disorder.

The American Psychiatric Association defines sleep disorders, also called sleep-wake disorders, as troubles with sleep quality, timing, and duration. Living with a sleep disorder significantly leads to distress and reduced ability to function.

Pediatric Sleep Disorders In Children

Children and adolescents need minimum nine hours of sleep every night. Sleep issues and a lack of sleep can have negative effects on children’s performance in school, during extracurricular activities, and in social relationships.

A lack of sleep may cause:

Accidents and injuries
Behavior problems
Impulsive behavior
Mood problems
Memory, concentration, and learning problems
Performance problems
Slower reaction times
Overeating

Sleep disorders affect several children. A study in 2014 estimated that up to 50 percent of kids will experience a sleep disorder. According to the study, common types of sleep disorders include:

obstructive sleep apnea (1 to 5%)
sleepwalking (17%)
confusional arousals (17.3% in kids up to age 13 and 2.9 to 4.2% in adolescents older than age 15)
sleep terrors (1 to 6.5%)
nightmares (10 to 50% in 3- to 5-year-olds)
behavioral insomnia of childhood (10 to 30%)
delayed sleep phase disorder (7 to 16 percent in adolescents, specifically)
restless leg syndrome (2 percent)

A child’s sleep disorder has the ability to affect the whole family. But there are ways to help improve it. If a child has a sleep disorder, a healthcare professional may be able to help.

Pediatric sleep disorders symptoms

Sometimes it can take children a little while to settle down before bed, but if your kid seems like they’re having a lot of trouble, it could be a sleep disorder.

Each of these scenarios can imply a possible sleep disorder:

The kid laying in bed, calling for another book, song, drink, or trip to the bathroom for what can seem like hours.
Your kid sleeps for only about 90 minutes at a time, even at night.
The child complaining of itchy legs at night.
Snoring loudly.

Many children tend to have occasional nights of restlessness or poor sleep. If these signs continue over several nights, it may signal there’s an underlying cause.

During daytime hours, children who are deficient in adequate sleep may also:

seem more moody and irritable
act in a more disruptive way
fail to perform at the usual level in school

Pediatric Sleep Disorders Treatments

Treating pediatric sleep disorders begins with setting expectations regarding normal pediatric sleep. Behavior modification plans can address some sleep issues. In addition to board-certified pediatric and adult sleep physicians with expertise in pediatric sleep disorders, a team of behavioral psychologists certified in the treatment of sleep disorders with expertise in working with children and their families. Using scheduled awakenings, positive reinforcement, and other techniques may be helpful in various cases of sleep disorders. In other cases, the doctor may recommend medications or supplements to treat a specific sleep disorder or underlying condition. Finally, in some cases, analysis for specific interventions by a specialist in allergy, Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgery, orthodontics, or other specialties may be recommended. In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure may be prescribed.