| A lot of attention has been focused on diagnosing | | | | seek the medical help of a sleep disorders |
| and treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in | | | | specialist. Without medical attention, some sleep |
| adults, and rightly so. But in all this excitement and | | | | disorders can go on for years, being unrecognized |
| interest, we have lost sight of our children. | | | | and untreated, ultimately resulting in more severe |
| Children are also affected by sleep disorders, | | | | problems in adulthood. |
| including those commonly found in adults, such as | | | | Finally, restless legs syndrome (RLS) has received |
| snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and | | | | a lot of attention recently. This attention is well |
| restless legs syndrome. According to the National | | | | deserved, because RLS is a common medical |
| Sleep Foundation, more than two-thirds of children | | | | problem for both children and adults. Often people |
| in America experience sleep problems at least a | | | | misunderstand RLS. RLS is an uncomfortable or |
| few nights a week. Unfortunately, children do not | | | | unpleasant sensation that occurs primarily in the |
| usually complain of sleep problems. | | | | legs, usually in the evening or at night. It is |
| Did you know that snoring is not considered to be | | | | characterized by the urge to move the legs to |
| a normal condition in children? In fact, the | | | | relieve discomfort, and movement of the legs is |
| American Academy of Pediatrics has recognized | | | | associated with a temporary relief of the |
| the importance of screening for snoring in kids, | | | | symptoms. RLS may be due to reduced iron |
| and they recommend evaluating all children who | | | | stores. Therefore, a medical work-up with |
| snore for underlying sleep apnea. That's because | | | | laboratory testing is necessary to rule out any |
| sleep apnea in children has been linked to several | | | | potentially treatable underlying causes, such as iron |
| significant problems. Some of these problems | | | | deficiency or anemia. RLS usually prevents or |
| include growth and developmental effects, mood | | | | delays the onset of sleep, and it may cause sleep |
| and learning disorders (i.e., irritability, depression, | | | | disturbance during the night. Children with RLS |
| ADHD), and social dysfunction (e.g., difficulty | | | | may complain of uncomfortable or unpleasant |
| interacting with friends or family members). | | | | sensations in their legs. In some cases, children |
| Interestingly, children with OSA do not present | | | | may complain of soreness in their legs. If these |
| with symptoms similar to adults with OSA. In | | | | symptoms persist for more than a few days, |
| children with OSA, symptoms of hyperactivity, | | | | then it is advisable to seek medical attention. RLS |
| irritability, or the inability to focus and concentrate | | | | has also been associated with ADHD. |
| may be more common than fatigue, excessive | | | | Unfortunately, sleep problems are highly prevalent |
| daytime sleepiness, or unintentional dozing. | | | | among children but seldom discussed, recognized, |
| However, one symptom that is often shared by | | | | or treated at regular office visits with the doctor. |
| both children and adults with sleep apnea is waking | | | | It is especially important that parents and |
| up feeling unrefreshed from sleep. Therefore, it's | | | | caregivers give special attention to recognizing the |
| important for adults to pay special attention to | | | | signs and symptoms of potential sleep disorders. |
| their child's sleep habits and to look out for any | | | | Parents and caregivers should seek the advice of |
| overt problem signs. | | | | a sleep disorders specialist when these problems |
| Another common sleep issue is insomnia. | | | | occur. Furthermore, increasing evidence suggests |
| Frequently, parents will complain that their child is | | | | that a variety of childhood sleep disorders are |
| not sleeping through the night, thereby affecting | | | | associated with inattention, hyperactivity, and |
| everyone else's sleep. Insomnia itself is not a | | | | underlying cognitive impairment that may have |
| distinctive diagnosis in children. On the contrary, it | | | | significant adverse effects on development and |
| is almost always a symptom of another | | | | school performance. We do know that poor or |
| underlying condition. Some examples of causes of | | | | inadequate sleep results in slowed metabolism, |
| insomnia are environmental factors, social stress | | | | weight gain, and a generalized decline in health. |
| (e.g., family conflicts), obstructive sleep apnea, | | | | The complete impact of sleep disorders on the |
| restless legs syndrome, and movement disorders. | | | | growth and development of children is still not |
| Once the underlying cause of insomnia is | | | | entirely known, but the current evidence and the |
| determined, effective treatment can be initiated. | | | | growing obesity epidemic suggest that this may |
| The keys are for parents or caregivers first to | | | | be a very substantial problem, indeed. |
| recognize the signs and symptoms, and then to | | | | |