A Study And Review Of Children's Sleep Disorders And Their Treatment Approaches

Sleep disorders, which are a set of clinical syndromes, have a prevalence of ۳۰-۵۰% among children, and are considered one of the most common causes of behavioral complaints in children. These disorders are usually less recognized due to the different symptoms and appearance in people, and considering that sufficient and high-quality sleep is very important in the growth and development of children, learning sleep-related habits and paying attention to the signs and symptoms of children's sleep disorders Also, it should always be considered, and pediatric neurologists pay attention to these cases. Among the important effects of sleep in children: secretion of growth hormone, cell differentiation, restoration of physical strength, emotional and physical growth, development of cognitive function and growth, protein synthesis and prevention of disorders such as attention and memory problems can be mentioned. 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 ۷۵% of children and young people (CYP) with NDEBID are known to experience different types of insomnia, compared to ۳% to ۳۶% in normally developing population. Sleep disorders affect ۱۵% to ۱۹% of adolescents with no disability, in comparison with ۲۶% to ۳۶% among CYP with moderate learning disability (LD) and ۴۴% 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.

Keywords:

Neurodevelopmental disorders , Pharmacotherapy , Non-pharmacologic interventions , Cognitive therapy , Melatonin , Adolescents , Psychoeducatio