Is your child sleepy during the day? Is he having nightmares or just cannot fall asleep? Do her siblings complain about her loud snoring? These signs and more could indicate a childhood sleep disorder. At Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, sleep doctors, Dr. Richard Bogan and Dr. Laura Herpel, treat patients of all ages, uncovering the reasons for problematic sleep patterns and helping to formulate a workable treatment plan.
Signs of a childhood sleep disorder
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else. You know when he or she is not getting a restful night's sleep because you notice signs such as:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
- Daytime irritability, behavioral issues and even learning problems
- Periodic breathing cessation (sleep apnea)
- Loud and persistent snoring
- Restlessness (including random leg movements while asleep)
- Sleep walking and sleep talking
- Nightmares
- Night terrors (instances of fear, flailing movements and yelling)
Unfortunately, up to 50 percent of school age children experience some kind of sleep disorder to one degree or other, reports American Family Physician. These problems not only impact the child but the rest of the family as well.
What you should do
Always report concerns such as sleep disruption to your child's pediatrician. While some sleep issues may be purely developmental in nature, others may be related to allergies, asthma, large tonsils and adenoids, obesity and other chronic health problems. Your child should have a complete physical to rule out serious issues. Also, your pediatrician may recommend referral to a sleep doctor, such as Dr. Bogan and Dr. Herpel, in Columbia, SC, for in-office analysis of potential sleep disorders.
Bogan Sleep Consultants has a fully equipped sleep testing lab to monitor signs of sleep disruption and gather the data needed to confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or other problems. From there, the doctor will outline a treatment plan specific to your child's needs.
In addition, these experts in sleep patterns recommend at-home strategies to help establish good sleep hygiene and encourage the healthy, complete rest for your child:
- Establish a regular bedtime, including baths/showers and oral hygiene routines.
- Create a calm, quiet routine, starting about one hour before bedtime.
- Avoid meals and snacks before bed, particularly anything sugary or containing caffeine.
- Turn off phones, TV, computers and music.
- Dim or turn off lights.
Consult us
If you're concerned about the quality of your child's sleep, please contact our office for an appointment. At Bogan Sleep Consultants, we are committed to your child's rest, well-being and health. Call your sleep doctor today at (803) 251-3093.
