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Sleep Problems of Children
Most childhood sleep disturbances occur only at certain ages, are temporary, and disappear as the child grows older. While annoying or frightening, they usually are not serious. In some cases, however, abnormal sleeping habits can be a sign of more serious problems requiring medical consultation.
Sleep Walking
Sleepwalking (somnambulism) is fairly common, especially among children. An estimated 15 percent of all children between the ages of 5 and 12 have walked in their sleep at least once, and most outgrow the disorder. Typically, the child (or adult) sleepwalker sits up, gets out of bed, and moves about in an uncoordinated manner. Less frequently, the sleepwalker may dress, open doors, eat, or go to the bathroom without incident and usually will avoid obstacles. But sleepwalkers don't always make their rounds in safety. They sometimes hurt themselves, stumbling against furniture and losing their balance, going through windows, or falling down stairs.
In children, sleepwalking is not believed to be influenced by psychological factors. In adults, it could indicate a personality disturbance.
Usually, it is enough for parents of sleepwalkers to provide their children with emotional support. They should also lock windows and doors and make sure the child does not sleep near stairways and potentially dangerous objects. For severe cases, a doctor may prescribe drugs.
Sleepwalking disorder Common Causes
- Possible hereditary/familial trend
- Drugs, for example, thioridazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, desipramine, chloral hydrate, and lithium
- Fever
- Sleep deprivation and obstructive sleep apnea (condition in which breathing stops temporarily while sleeping)
- Other disorders that disrupt slow-wave sleep
- Internal stimuli, such as a full urinary bladder
- External stimuli, such as noises REM sleep behavior disorder
- Has been associated with dementia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, ischemic cerebrovascular disease, olivopontocerebellar degeneration, multiple sclerosis, and brain stem neoplasms.
Night Terrors Versus Nightmares
Night terrors (known as pavor nocturnus in children) are relatively short nocturnal episodes during which the child sits up in bed, emits a piercing scream or cry, looks frightened, and sweats and breathes profusely. Episodes usually occur between the ages of 4 and 12, are more common in boys than girls, and can be expected to disappear as the child grows older. Typically, they occur during the first third of the night. The disorder may progress to sleep walking, but generally that only happens when the child is made to stand up. Later the child will forget the entire episode. Parents should comfort and provide warmth and support to children who experience night terrors. The condition does not indicate any personality disorder.
Nightmares, unlike night terrors, can be recalled afterward and are accompanied by much less anxiety and movement. These frightening dream experiences, which tend to occur at times of insecurity, emotional turmoil, depression, or guilt, can occur in all age groups. They are rarely accompanied by the anguished, terrified scream of the night-terror arousal. A person experiencing a nightmare will usually recount in de tail a threat which ultimately led to the awakening. Some people rarely have nightmares, while others seem predisposed to them.
Bed Wetting
Bedwetting (enuresis) is a common childhood sleep disorder which, contrary to popular belief,. is almost never emotionally or psychologically caused; less than 1 percent of bedwetting has an emotional source. About 5 to 17 percent of children aged 3 to 5 wet their beds; usually the condition will stop by the age of 4 or 5. However, a bedwetting child may feel guilty or ashamed. Waking the child up in the middle of the night or handing out punishments and rewards may only serve to increase the problem.
In most cases, the cause is unknown, but a congenitally small bladder, a bladder infection, or some other physical problem may be responsible. Bedwetting that continues into adolescence or adulthood may be attributed: to emotional problems, but neurological disease or diabetes also can be the cause. If the disorder persists, a physician should be consulted. For some children, drugs or time away from home may be prescribed for short periods, such as a week at camp or a weekend with friends or relatives.
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