Sleep is an important activity of the developing brain. It is essential to a positive mood, good attention, concentration, learning and cognitive development. In short, getting enough uninterrupted sleep is important to the mental and physical health of all, children, adolescents and parents alike. While the amount of sleep needed changes over the course of development from infancy to adulthood, the need for sleep that is uninterrupted and of good quality never changes. With the increasing pace of life in our modern, technological world, people of all ages are routinely getting less and poorer quality sleep with many resulting emotional and physical health consequences.

Healthy sleep occurs in predictable stages and cycles that are largely determined by biology. However, things in the environment (e.g. noise, light, temperature, diet, daily schedules for meals and activities, travel, stress, unfamiliar surroundings, etc.) can disrupt sleep. Many types of physical problems (neurological, digestive or breathing problems; injury/pain, depression, anxiety), and by certain types of medications also can disturb sleep.

While some sleep problems can be diagnosed and treated medically, many have environmental and behavioral causes and solutions.

The most common types of sleep problems encountered in children and adolescents include resisting going to bed, difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, too much napping during the day, trouble going back to sleep after awakening, night terrors, sleep walking/talking, and difficulty waking up in the morning.

Treatments for environmentally and behaviorally based sleep problems typically require careful examination and record keeping of daily habits and routines related to bedtime, diet, meal and activity schedules, noise, stimulation, stress and so forth. Most treatments require making gradual but consistent changes in the routines and activities of daily living along with the use of basic child behavior management strategies.

Related Marcus Autism Center Clinical Programs

Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Center

Additional Resources:

Child Neurology Associates
(www.neurologychannel.com/childneurology)