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Published on: October 2, 2019
Parents' perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
Maria Lönn1,2, Lena-Karin Erlandsson1, Katarina Aili3
1Department of Health and Care, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.
Parents reported significant improvements in children's sleep problems, including bedtime resistance and daytime sleepiness, after using weighted blankets. These findings highlight the benefits of weighted blankets for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Behavioral Therapy
Background:
- Parental perceptions of sleep problems in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are crucial for a client-centered approach.
- Understanding these perceptions aids in addressing challenges faced by families managing ADHD and sleep disturbances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how parents' views on their children's sleep issues change after a weighted blanket intervention.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of weighted blankets in improving sleep for children with ADHD from a parental perspective.
Main Methods:
- A sleep intervention involving weighted blankets was implemented for 45 children with ADHD (aged 6-14).
- Parental perceptions of sleep problems were assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire at baseline and after a 16-week intervention.
Main Results:
- Parents reported improvements in common sleep problems like bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness, sleep onset delay, and sleep duration in 50-75% of children.
- Less frequent issues such as parasomnias and nightly awakenings also showed improvement and were rarely perceived as persistent.
Conclusions:
- Weighted blankets led to reported improvements across various sleep domains for children with ADHD, although some issues persisted.
- A client-centered evaluation, incorporating parental perceptions, is vital for assessing weighted blanket efficacy in children with ADHD.
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