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Behavior and Attention Problems in Children Linked with Sleep
Excerpted from the National Sleep Foundation’s NSF ALERT, Nov. 28, 2006
NSF’s 2004 Sleep in America poll, which focused on the sleep of children aged ten and younger, revealed that American kids are not getting the sleep they need and that a majority experience sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Now the results of a new study show an association between sleep problems and inattention and hyperactivity among school-aged children in Taiwan. The study involved 2,463 children aged 6-15 who were evaluated using sleep and health questionnaires and teacher assessments. The researchers found that insomnia, circadian rhythm disturbances, and inadvertent napping increased with age, whereas bedwetting, bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching), and sleep terrors decreased with age. The researchers also found that children with sleep problems were more likely to be inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive, and display oppositional behaviors.
Posted July 13th, 2007
NSF’s 2004 Sleep in America poll, which focused on the sleep of children aged ten and younger, revealed that American kids are not getting the sleep they need and that a majority experience sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Now the results of a new study show an association between sleep problems and inattention and hyperactivity among school-aged children in Taiwan. The study involved 2,463 children aged 6-15 who were evaluated using sleep and health questionnaires and teacher assessments. The researchers found that insomnia, circadian rhythm disturbances, and inadvertent napping increased with age, whereas bedwetting, bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching), and sleep terrors decreased with age. The researchers also found that children with sleep problems were more likely to be inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive, and display oppositional behaviors.
These results suggest that there is a close relationship between sleep and behavior and attention problems in children. Indeed, sleep problems are sometimes confused with attention and hyperactivity problems in children. According to the results of one study, treating sleep problems may be enough to eliminate attention and hyperactivity issues for some children. In a 24/7 world that provides so many options for entertainment and activities at times traditionally dedicated to sleep, children are at risk for sleep loss and the problems associated with it. This places a responsibility on parents, schools, and community groups to manage activities and schedules so that healthy sleep is a priority for children.
