Pediatric sleep disorder may affect school performance

Pediatric sleep disorder may affect school performance

NORWALK, CT - As the school year begins, it is very important that parents do their homework. According to Lewis J. Kass, MD..., parents need to take note of their children’s sleep patterns. ...

All too often, he says, parents learn from the teacher that their child is unfocused, inattentive and/or hyperactive. The child may then be diagnosed with having ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), but in fact, these symptoms could be from disturbed nighttime sleep,” he said. “I tell parents that if you are at the point of considering a stimulant medication for your child for the treatment of ADHD, why not spend one night in a sleep lab to rule out a treatable sleep disorder.

In fact, according to Dr. Kass, research shows that 15 to 65 percent of children with ADHD have underlying sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders can affect children of all ages, from toddlers to adolescents. Symptoms of sleep problems in toddlers may include frequent tantrums, prematurely eliminating napping and/or being irritable during the day. Children in pre-k and kindergarten years may show symptoms in the classroom of irritability, sleepiness, hyperactivity or they may act out, said Dr. Kass. As children approach the adolescent years, poor school grades, hyperactivity and mood swings may be symptoms of sleep deprivation.

Read more at: http://www.stamfordplus.com/stm/information/nws1/publish/education/Pediatric-sleep-disorder-may-affect-school-performance14371.shtml