Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Sleep problems in children & conditions we treat

Sleep-disordered breathing

• snoring
• noisy breathing
• sleeping with open mouth
• obstructive sleep apnea (difficulty breathing while asleep, blockage of airflow)

Sleeplessness (insomnia)

• resisting bedtime
• problems getting to sleep
• frequent nighttime waking
• irregular sleep patterns
• trouble with naps

Sleep schedule abnormalities

• difficulty falling asleep or waking at the desired time
• reversal of sleep-wake timings (long naps, short nighttime sleep)
• shifts in sleep rhythms

Sleepy teenagers

• difficulty falling asleep or waking at the desired hour
• remaining awake for long hours at night and sleeping until late hours in the morning/afternoon on weekends.
• feeling sleepy during the daytime, taking frequent naps and dozing off in class
• insufficient sleep or inconsistent sleep schedule

Excessive daytime sleepiness

• overt daytime sleepiness
• moodiness
• hyperactivity
• difficulty focusing or learning
• poor memory
• narcolepsy and other medical disorders
• sleeping too long (12-14 hours)

Parasomnias and nocturnal events

• confusion arousals and sleep terrors (incomplete waking, crying or screaming, thrashing, looking upset or frightened)
• sleepwalking and sleep talking (while only partly awake)
• teeth grinding (bruxism)
• bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)
• periodic limb movements in sleep (leg or arm jerks every 20 to 60 seconds while asleep)

Restless leg syndrome (RLS)

• restlessness/unpleasant feelings in legs during the evening or at bedtime
  • relieved by activity
  • worsened with resting
  • family history of parents or other relatives having similar symptoms

If your child is suffering from any of these sleep problems, speak with your primary care physician. You may also want to consider contacting us for an appointment.