Sleep Disorders In Children

Would it surprise you to learn that sleep disorders in children aren't a rare occurrence?

According to statistics, over 2 million children in the US suffer from sleep-related problems. That's about 2 in every 10 children. Surprised? I know I was.

Although newborns and infants have irregular sleep patterns, once they get a littl older we tend to think that a good nights' sleep comes naturally to a child....

... but that's not necessarily true!

What's Disturbing Your Child's Sleep?

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Childhood Insomnia
• Sleepwalking
• Sleep Terrors
• Bedwetting

Ask any mom, and she'll tell you that not every child is born with the same need for (or ability to) sleep. And research is beginning to support what moms have known all along.

There is also emerging evidence that childhood-onset insomnia may have a hereditary component, and that some sleep disorders in children may be a genetic trait.

Teens and Sleep

It's not just the infants and younger children who suffer from sleep related problems either. There are stages in life when insomnia or sleep disorders are more likely to occur, adolescence is one of them.

Although most teens need between 9 and 10 hours of sleep every night, it's estimated that 30% to 40% of them aren't getting it!

A 2006 survey by the National Sleep Foundation, found that 16% of the adolescents they surveyed admitted that they felt they may be suffering from a sleep disorder.

The effects of sleep disorders in children and teens are wide ranging. Similar symptoms to those of sleep deprived adults (poor concentration and memory, slow reaction times, unstable emotional state) can have even more far-reaching results when seen in children.

Poor concentration and memory problems lead to learning difficulties and inferior academic performance. Not surprisingly this can then impact their opportunity to graduate high school or college and of course, consequently, their career choices.

The emotional highs and lows that area an integral part of adolescence, are heightened when a teen is experiencing sleep problems.

Data collected during a survey of children aged 4 - 16 found, not surprisingly, that the ones who had difficulty sleeping experienced more aggression, depression and anxiety than the others.

What makes this even more frightening, is that researchers are beginning to find that sleep disorders are common among people who commit, or attempt to commit, suicide.

A recent Swedish study of adults who had attempted to commit suicide, found that an amazing 89% of them complained of experiencing sleep problems on a regular basis.

Taking Childhood Sleep Disorders Seriously

Those of us who have children who suffer from chronic sleep difficulties, need to take the issue seriously and make every effort to get the best treatment/s available.

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