My child sleeps poorly
Children can suffer from the same sleep disorders as adults, but the symptoms often manifest differently. There are also sleep disorders that primarily or exclusively affect children.
Sleep disorders in children can arise from multiple factors. There may be a physical cause, but this is not always the case. It could be that a child has not learned to sleep on their own, has recently been ill, or is particularly sensitive to stress and stimuli. Sometimes, parents may struggle to get their child to sleep and unintentionally reinforce the child's undesirable sleep behavior.
Severe lack of sleep can negatively affect your child's behavior, mood, and possibly their development. Additionally, your child's sleep behavior can lead to stress for other family members. In such cases, help is needed to break the vicious cycle of poor sleep.
Children referred to Kempenhaeghe typically have a complex sleep problem. Sometimes, extra facilities are needed due to the child's age. At the Center for Sleep Medicine, we have everything in place to provide optimal guidance for children.
Types of sleep disorders in children
Disrupted breathing (sleep apnea), prolonged insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), and unusual behavior during sleep (parasomnia) can also occur in children. These disorders can severely disrupt a child's sleep, potentially having a negative effect on their behavior, mood, and development.
Diagnosis and treatment
In most children, the sleep problem is caused by multiple factors or conditions. Therefore, we involve various experts in the diagnosis and treatment. This multidisciplinary team consists of specialists such as pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, psychologists, and behavior therapists.
If needed, social work, pedagogical home support, and outpatient school guidance are also available. Together, the specialists work to identify the cause of the sleep problems and develop a treatment plan.
Sometimes, sleep studies, such as polysomnography, are necessary to gain more insight into the sleep issues. The required treatment depends on the cause of the sleep disorder. This may involve medical treatment, but also behavior therapy and the teaching of new habits.
Your role as parents
As parents, we involve you intensively in the diagnosis and treatment process. You will receive information and advice. We guide you in learning techniques to improve your child's sleep pattern, such as establishing a consistent bedtime routine. We also explain what sleep hygiene is and why it is so important for all sleep disorders.
Evaluation of the treatment
Depending on the diagnosis and treatment plan, we regularly evaluate progress with you. Kempenhaeghe remains involved in the treatment or, if necessary, refers to other healthcare providers. We keep the referring doctor informed about the progress.
