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Sleep problems in a sample of children with developmental disorders, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

M Belén Micheletti1, Pablo Cafiero2, Silvana Nápoli2

  • 1Servicio de Clínicas Interdisciplinarias del Neurodesarrollo, Hospital de Pediatría "Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan", Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. belenmicheletti@gmail.com.

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|September 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems are common in children with developmental disorders (DDs). Sleep hygiene (SH) improved symptoms in 80% of cases, highlighting pediatricians

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep problems (SPs) are prevalent in children with developmental disorders (DDs), impacting their daily functioning and family life.
  • Pediatricians are crucial in managing sleep difficulties in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency and types of SPs in children with DDs.
  • To assess pediatrician involvement in addressing SPs.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of sleep hygiene (SH) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep.

Main Methods:

  • A quasi-experimental design was employed.
  • Sleep problems were diagnosed via parental concerns or clinical criteria.
  • Sleep hygiene strategies were implemented and assessed using parental reports and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ-S) pre- and post-intervention. The COVID-19 pandemic's impact was also measured.

Main Results:

  • 55% of 161 children with DDs experienced SPs.
  • 80% of children improved with SH interventions.
  • Only 45% of those with a pediatrician had consulted about sleep. SPs and SH outcomes were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions:

  • Half of children with DDs experience SPs, with limited pediatrician consultation (45%).
  • Sleep hygiene is effective for most children, underscoring the pediatrician's vital role.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated SPs in children with DDs, likely due to environmental factors.
Abstract

Keywords:
child developmentneurodevelopmental disorderssleepsleep hygiene

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