Are Your Kids Suffering from Sleep Disorders?

Most of the risk factors associated with sleep disorders become more exaggerated with age. Increased weight, neck size, and declines in health often bring on disorders such as sleep apnea. These disorders however, are not age-specific conditions, and some papers even suggest that sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders are underdiagnosed in children. A report in the New York Times presents an example of how sleep disorders could be easily misdiagnosed as another issue such as ADHD.

After all, consider some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea:

•       An inability to concentrate
•       Restlessness
•       Mood swings
•       Irritability

Ordinarily “daytime drowsiness” would be on this list as well, but the psychiatrist in the Times article above notes that, especially in children, a lack of sleep can manifest through hyperactivity. Combine that symptom with the others, and it starts to look suspiciously similar to ADHD.

The consequences of young people suffering from sleep disorders are also much more profound than those experienced by adults. They can directly impact growth and early-life learning in ways that will persist throughout their lives. With the stakes so high, it becomes important to make sure that your kids are getting enough healthy sleep.  

Your first warning signs may come in the form of “ADHD-like” symptoms. If your child is having difficulties concentrating, naps frequently, and is having trouble staying organized, it’s worth your time to investigate their sleeping patterns before going in for an ADHD diagnosis. Tools such as sleep journals, baby monitors, or, if they’re old and cooperative enough, the self-monitoring method described in this post, can all help point out abnormalities in their sleep patterns. If you notice restlessness or sleeping abnormalities, then you have good incentive to bring your child in for a sleep evaluation and further treatment.

Depending on the nature of the disorder, these treatments can be relatively painless. Some children respond sufficiently to medicine, and the results of their improved sleep can be dramatic. Increased mood stability, focus, and reduced restlessness are likely to follow, and you will be making a permanent improvement to your child’s long-term health by encouraging their healthy growth and neurological development.

Even if you don’t have access to a medical professional right away, there are a number of ways you can try to establish healthy sleep patterns for your children. Limiting their exposure to electronics at night, helping them establish bed-time routines, giving them sleep-enhancing teas, and even directly incentivizing a healthy sleep pattern can all help improve your child’s sleep and long-term health.
Because sleep is tied to so many different processes in the body, it’s important that a developing person get the right amount – and the right kind! – of rest that they need. Spotting sleep disorders in your own child can be challenging, but it’s worth your time to make the effort.