What Increases The Sleep Problems In Teenagers?

Kids

oi-Staff

By Super Admin

Saturday, May 28, 2011, 11:13

Many experts suggest that the teenagers should have more time to sleep for better health. However the recent day reports show that many teenagers suffer from sleep disorders. What's the alarming reason for this?

Adolescents with a childhood diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more likely to have current and lifetime sleep problems and disorders, regardless of the severity of current ADHD symptoms. The sleep disorders include insomnia; sleep terrors, nightmares, bruxism and snoring. The presence of at least one psychiatric co morbid condition increases the risks for insomnia and nightmares.

The rates of nightmare and lifetime nightmare disorder were more prevalent in girls and snoring was more prevalent in boys. Snoring may be more prevalent in boys due to an increased rate of sleep-disordered breathing in boys.

Shockingly 17 percent of children with ADHD were currently suffering from primary insomnia, versus 7 percent of controls; lifetime primary insomnia occurred in 20 percent of children with ADHD, compared to 10 percent of controls. Nightmare disorder affected 11 percent of children with ADHD and lifetime nightmare disorder affected 23 percent, versus 5 and 16 percent of controls.

Symptoms and consequences of ADHD and sleep problems in children often overlap. Some primary sleep disorders are found to be associated with inattention, hyperactivity and impaired academic performance, which are often mistaken for symptoms of ADHD. In some patients with ADHD, symptoms are caused or exaggerated by primary sleep disorders, and therefore treatment of the sleep disorder will improve ADHD symptoms.

Mothers were found to be more aware of symptoms related to ADHD in the presence of primary insomnia, sleep terror disorder or sleepwalking disorder, whereas teachers may be more sensitive to ADHD symptoms in the presence of primary hypersomnia and nightmare disorder.

The study is published in the May 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.