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Management of sleep disorders among children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders: A practical guide for
Michael O Ogundele1, Chinnaiah Yemula2
1Department of Community Paediatrics, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Halton District, Runcorn WA7 1TW, United Kingdom. m.ogundele@nhs.net.
Insights
Children with neurodevelopmental, emotional, behavioral, and intellectual disorders (NDEBID) frequently experience sleep problems, which can worsen cognitive and behavioral issues. Management strategies include behavioral interventions and pharmacotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep disorders are prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental, emotional, behavioral, and intellectual disorders (NDEBID), affecting up to 75% of this population.
- Compared to the general population (3-36%), sleep disorder prevalence is higher in adolescents with learning disabilities (26-44%).
- Chronic sleep deprivation in children with NDEBID is linked to behavioral problems, impaired cognitive development, mood disorders, and physical health risks like obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on sleep disorders in children with NDEBID.
- To provide an overview of sleep physiology, etiology, classification, and prevalence.
- To outline management strategies and practical care pathways.
Main Methods:
- This study is a narrative review of existing literature.
- It synthesizes information on sleep disorders in children with NDEBID.
- A flowchart is presented for practical management, including assessment, investigations, and follow-up.
Main Results:
- Children with NDEBID have a significantly higher prevalence of sleep disorders compared to typically developing children.
- Sleep disorders in this population are associated with adverse outcomes in cognitive, behavioral, and physical health.
- Management approaches include psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and pharmacotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disorders are a significant concern for children with NDEBID, impacting their development and well-being.
- Effective management requires a comprehensive approach, including behavioral interventions and potentially pharmacotherapy.
- A structured care plan is essential for addressing sleep issues in this vulnerable group.
Abstract:
There is a complex relationship between sleep disorders and childhood neurodevelopmental, emotional, behavioral and intellectual disorders (NDEBID). NDEBID include several conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning (intellectual) disorders. Up to 75% of children and young people (CYP) with NDEBID are known to experience different types of insomnia, compared to 3% to 36% in normally developing population. Sleep disorders affect 15% to 19% of adolescents with no disability, in comparison with 26% to 36% among CYP with moderate learning disability (LD) and 44% among those with severe LD. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with significant risks of behavioural problems, impaired cognitive development and learning abilities, poor memory, mood disorders and school problems. It also increases the risk of other health outcomes, such as obesity and metabolic consequences, significantly impacting on the wellbeing of other family members. This narrative review of the extant literature provides a brief overview of sleep physiology, aetiology, classification and prevalence of sleep disorders among CYP with NDEBIDs. It outlines various strategies for the management, including parenting training/psychoeducation, use of cognitive-behavioral strategies and pharmacotherapy. Practical management including assessment, investigations, care plan formulation and follow-up are outlined in a flow chart.
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