Symptoms of sleep disturbances among children at two general pediatric clinics

Abstract

Objective: We assessed the frequency of childhood sleep problems at 2 general pediatric clinics.

Study design: Parents of 1038 unselected children (554 boys) aged 2.0 to 13.9 years completed a validated Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire while waiting for appointments.

Results: Habitual snoring was reported in 176 (17%) of the children. Criterion scores suggestive of sleep-disordered breathing were found in 115 (11%) of the children, in 29% of children at the clinic for neurologic indications, and in 21% of children at the clinic for noninfectious respiratory indications. Insomnia (ie, unrefreshing sleep or difficulty with sleep onset, sleep maintenance, or early morning awakening from sleep) was reported in 430 (41%) of the children; > or =2 symptoms were present in 191 (18%) of the children. Excessive daytime sleepiness was suggested in 148 (14%) of the children, and 390 (38%) had symptoms of sleep terrors, sleepwalking, or nocturnal bruxism.

Conclusions: Sleep problems such as sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia, excessive sleepiness, and parasomnias are frequent among children seen at general pediatric practices.