Is your child having trouble sleeping? Find out if a sleep disorder could be to blame.

It is estimated that around 50 percent of children will experience sleep problems at some point. If you find your child is dealing with daytime fatigue, mood swings, behavioral issues and trouble concentrating then these could be early signs of a sleep disorder. It’s important to recognize these patterns early on so that our Columbia, SC, sleep physician Dr. Richard Bogan can evaluate your child and determine if their problems stem from sleep problems.

Here are some common childhood sleep disorders,

Insomnia

Just like adults can develop insomnia, so too can children. While it’s normal for everyone (even kids) to have trouble sleeping sometimes, true childhood insomnia occurs when a child has trouble falling or staying asleep for at least two days a week. While you may not immediately recognize that your child is having trouble sleeping you may notice that your child suddenly refuses to go to bed or suddenly throws tantrums around bedtime. Sometimes children with ADHD, autism or mental health issues such as anxiety or depression may also be prone to bouts of insomnia.

Parasomnias

If your child is a sleepwalker, then they are dealing with a type of parasomnia. Parasomnias occur when a child is falling asleep, during REM sleep or when being aroused from non-REM sleep. Sleepwalking is just one common form but children with parasomnias may also experience sleep terrors (vivid nightmares that scare them awake in the middle of the night). Some children may experience temporary paralysis between the sudden sleep and awake transition or may hallucinate upon waking up.

Hypersomnia

Does your child or teen walk zombie-like throughout the day? Do they seem excessively tired despite getting enough sleep at night? While we may stereotypically make jokes about how teens often don’t want to get up for school or hit their alarm excessively, if these are common problems this might be worth looking into. After all, children with obstructive sleep apnea or delayed sleep phase syndrome may have trouble waking up during the day and may also experience brain fog, poor concentration and memory, and a decline in academic performance.

If trying to get your child to sleep is a losing battle it may be time to consult with our Columbia, SC, sleep doctor to find out if something more could be going on. The sooner a sleep disorder is diagnosed the sooner we can help your child find ways to cope with symptoms and improve their sleep. Turn to the experts at Bogan Sleep Consultants by calling (803) 251-3093.