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Sleep Characteristics of Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy

Hangsel Sanguino1,2, Laura Brunton3,4, Elizabeth G Condliffe1,5,6

  • 1Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Journal of Child Neurology
|October 13, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Children with cerebral palsy often experience sleep difficulties, including more awakenings than recommended. Addressing these sleep issues is crucial for improving their health and quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Disabilities

Background:

  • Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are recognized as a high-risk group for sleep disturbances.
  • Previous research on CP and sleep has been limited by reliance on subjective measures and insufficient examination of contributing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To objectively assess sleep patterns in youth with cerebral palsy.
  • To identify factors associated with sleep difficulties in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a mixed-methods approach with 45 youth with CP.
  • Employed validated sleep questionnaires for both youth and caregivers.
  • Incorporated objective sleep assessment using daily actigraphy.

Main Results:

  • While sleep duration and efficiency generally met recommendations, youth with CP had significantly more awakenings.
  • A majority reported poor sleep quality, with approximately 25% experiencing insomnia.
  • Male gender and pre-existing mental health diagnoses correlated with poorer sleep quality and increased insomnia symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Youth with cerebral palsy frequently encounter diverse sleep problems, including increased awakenings and insomnia.
  • Objective data from actigraphy provide crucial insights into sleep disturbances in this population.
  • Targeting sleep issues in youth with CP is essential for enhancing overall well-being and mitigating negative health outcomes.

Keywords:
actigraphycerebral palsysleepsleep patternsyouth

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