Sleep Disturbances and Patterns in Children With Neurodevelopmental Conditions

Overview

Journal Front Pediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2021 Mar 19

PMID 33738270

Citations 10

Authors

Elizabeth J Halstead

Anna Joyce

Emma Sullivan

Carwyn Tywyn

Kyle Davies

Alexandra Jones

Dagmara Dimitriou

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Children with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDC) often experience sleep problems which are long-lasting and more complex than typically developing children. These sleep problems impact their families and there is little guidance for management specifically for sleep for families of children with neurodevelopmental conditions. The present study aims to use parental report to evaluate sleep disturbances and sleep patterns in a large sample of children with NDC. We aim to identify associations with age, diagnosis, and medication groups. Data on 601 children aged between 2 and 17 years was analyzed from a UK non-profit service for sleep for families of children with NDC. Parents/carers completed the children's sleep habit questionnaire, a 7 day sleep diary, and information on child age, diagnosis, and medication. Parents also reported previous sleep management techniques they had tried. Overall, we found differences between age, diagnosis, and medication use groups for sleep disturbances and sleep diary parameters in these populations. Sensory conditions were associated with high night time waking duration. Parents reported their child's short sleep duration was the most common problem for them. Key areas for further research are outlined including the long term considerations for parental presence at bedtime for sleep anxiety, melatonin use and efficacy, and consideration for interventions to reduce daytime fatigue in children aged 7-11 years old.

Citing Articles

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Evaluation of sleep disorders in children and adolescents affected by Klinefelter syndrome.

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Night Sleep, Parental Bedtime Practices and Language Development in Low-Risk Preterm and Full-Term Late Talkers: A Longitudinal Study in the Third Year of Life.

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Relationship between sleep disturbance and developmental status in preschool-aged children with developmental disorder.

Kim S, Kim C, Park D, Cho K, Nam J BMC Pediatr. 2024; 24(1):373.

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Evaluation of Sleep Difficulties in Egyptian Children with Down Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Sayed-Ahmed M, Taher M, Zaytoun R, Abdel Hady A Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024; 76(1):97-102.

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