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Sleep in Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities During COVID-19: An Integrative Review
Rebecca Kronk1, Inah Kim1, David Nolfi2
1Rebecca Kronk, Professor and Inah Kim, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened sleep problems for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Remote interventions and preparedness toolkits are needed for future crises.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Public Health Crises
Background:
- Children with neurodevelopmental disorders experience higher rates of sleep issues.
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep in this vulnerable population remains understudied.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted sleep in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Future research should focus on developing remote interventions and crisis preparedness strategies for families.
Introduction:
Sleep issues occur at higher rates in children with neurodevelopmental disorders than in the typical population. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on sleep issues in this population METHOD: This integrative review aimed to characterize studies during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) addressing the prevalence and management of sleep issues in children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders.Comprehensive database searches were used to identify articles, and 31 studies were considered suitable for this review.
Results:
Most studies reported worsening sleep disturbances during COVID-19 restrictions. All studies were conducted when clinics were closed; only two studies addressed treatment options such as music therapy and sleep hygiene education and found improvement in sleep issues.
Discussion:
Future research needs to concentrate on developing interventions to assist families remotely and empower families with a toolkit of preparedness in times of crisis.
