Pediatric Sleep Disorders Workup

  • Author: Dennis A Nutter Jr, MD; Chief Editor: Caroly Pataki, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 22, 2012
 

Sleep Studies

Sleep laboratory studies are very helpful when indicated, but most common pediatric sleep problems do not require formal sleep laboratory testing. Most sleep problems resolve with behavioral treatments. Overnight polysomnography (PSG) and next-day multiple sleep latency tests represent the most commonly used sleep studies. Clinical suspicion of any of the following disorders should prompt referral for sleep studies:

  • Sleep-related seizurelike activity
  • Sleep-related gastroesophageal reflux
  • Nighttime asthma or persistent cough
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)[6] or Tourette syndrome associated with restless sleep and disrupted daytime functioning
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement during sleep (PLMS) – Both are relatively common in these patients
  • Recurrent rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviors
  • Severe bruxism
  • Snoring and hypopnea or apnea
  • Recalcitrant or unexplained and daytime somnolence
  • Suspected narcolepsy

Multiple sleep latency tests aid in clarifying unexplained excessive daytime sleepiness and narcolepsy symptoms.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Dennis A Nutter Jr, MD  President and Director, North Georgia Neuropsychiatry, PC

Dennis A Nutter Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Guy K Palmes, MD  Assistant Professor, Program Director, Department of Psychiatry, Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Caroly Pataki, MD  Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Division Chair, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Caroly Pataki, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Academy of Sciences, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Chet Johnson, MD Medical Director, Child Development Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Professor, University of Kansas Medical Center

Chet Johnson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Benyam Tegene, MD Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

Benyam Tegene, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press; 2000.

  2. Arman AR, Ay P, Fis NP, et al. Association of sleep duration with socio-economic status and behavioural problems among schoolchildren. Acta Paediatr. Mar 2011;100(3):420-4. [Medline].

  3. Brand S, Gerber M, Hatzinger M, Beck J, Holsboer-Trachsler E. Evidence for similarities between adolescents and parents in sleep patterns. Sleep Med. Dec 2009;10(10):1124-31. [Medline].

  4. Bazil CW. Sleep, Sleep Apnea, and Epilepsy. Curr Treat Options Neurol. Jul 2004;6(4):339-345. [Medline].

  5. Billiard M. The Klein-Levin syndrome. In: Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC, eds. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. Vol 1. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1989.

  6. Goraya JS, Cruz M, Valencia I, Kaleyias J, Khurana DS, Hardison HH, et al. Sleep study abnormalities in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Pediatr Neurol. Jan 2009;40(1):42-6. [Medline].

  7. [Best Evidence] Blumer JL, Findling RL, Shih WJ, Soubrane C, Reed MD. Controlled clinical trial of zolpidem for the treatment of insomnia associated with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in children 6 to 17 years of age. Pediatrics. May 2009;123(5):e770-6. [Medline].

 
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