Assessment and treatment of common pediatric sleep disorders

I. Sleep disorders are common in childhood and adolescence

and are associated with neurocognitive and psychosocial
impairments as well as an increase in caregiver burden.
Bedtime settling difficulties and frequent nighttime
awakenings tend to be predominant during infancy and
early childhood, while sleep difficulties due to
insufficient sleep hygiene or circadian rhythm disorders
tend to appear more prominent in adolescence. Behavioral
interventions for pediatric sleep problems, especially in
young children, have been shown to produce clinically
significant improvements. This review describes a few
pertinent conditions of sleep disorders in children and
adolescents as well as provides clinically useful
approaches to sleep complaints. It also provides both
pharmacologic and no pharmacological treatments of some
common pediatric sleep disorders.

Pediatric sleep problems are a common occurrence and are

associated with significant daytime impairments. They can
present as the primary sleep disorder or as a secondary
consequence of an underlying medical or psychiatric
disorder, and they can compromise social, academic, and
neurobehavioral functioning. There appears to be a rather
slow development in awareness regarding childhood sleep
difficulties among the general public and healthcare
professionals.

II.
 Obtaining a full and accurate history, followed by a
comprehensive physical exam, including screening for
developmental delays and cognitive impairment,
appears to be a cornerstone for evaluating pediatric
sleep issues.
 Behavioral therapies should be the core of pediatric
insomnia therapy and should be delivered to parents
and children as an initial treatment (or in
conjunction with medications). Behavioral therapies
attempt to assist children in initiating and
maintaining sleep independently, resulting in more
total sleep time and better sleep quality.
III. Assessment and treatment of common pediatric sleep
disorders. (2010). Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)).
Retrieved March 2, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2898839/