What are sleep disorders?

Also known as: sleep disturbance.

Two out of three children under the age of 10 years have some type of sleep problem. Sleep problems can be divided into two broad groups.

Dyssomnias (behavioral problems with a normal sleep study like difficulty getting to sleep, remaining asleep or excessive sleepiness) characterized by the amount, quality or timing of sleep. There are over 30 recognized kinds of dyssomnia.
Parasomnias (in which a sleep study, polysomnography is abnormal); common examples include sleep apnea, narcolepsy sleepwalking, night terrors, nightmares, night bed wetting and rhythmic movement disorders like head banging or rocking (which may be associated with brain immaturity and outgrown).

Poor sleep quality/quantity can lead to academic, behavioral, developmental and social difficulties, weight issues, and other problems.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM