Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Advancing Dyslexia Assessment in Children Through Computerized Testing
Published on: August 16, 2024
[Sleep disturbances among children and adolescents with learning disabilities. Comparative study between students
M Tomás Vila1, B Beseler Soto, M Benac Prefasi
1Unidad de Neuropediatría, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Francesc de Borja, Gandía, Valencia, España. tomas_mig@gva.es
Introduction:
Sleep disturbances affect daytime behaviour and cognitive functions in children. These disorders make the situation worse in children who already have learning difficulties. The objective of the present study was to study the prevalence of sleep disturbances among children from special schools and carry out a comparative study with children from mainstream schools.
Patients And Methods:
We use the Spanish version of the Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire, which was given out in three special schools of the Valencia Community. Results were compared with a previous study in children from mainstream schools.
Results:
A significantly higher proportion of children in special schools had insomnia, 32.3 % against 10.5 % in main-stream school, and sleep breathing disorders, 26.8 % against 5.7 % in mainstream schools, and a lower proportion of parasomnias. Among the whole population with learning difficulties, children with cerebral palsy are the most affected.
Conclusions:
Our results clearly show that children with learning difficulties have a higher risk of sleep disturbances and these disturbances have repercussions on daily functioning. It is important to rule out sleep disturbances when we see children with learning difficulties.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares often...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors
The exact cause of RLS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate muscle movement. Imbalances in dopamine levels...

