Iowa Sleep Blog

What to look for in a Pediatric Sleep Center Children require special attention when undergoing sleep studies so be sure to choose a sleep center with specific pediatric expertise in childhood and adolescent sleep disorders. Parents need to be aware of the following when finding a sleep center appropriate for their child: The Sleep Physician should have experience in the evaluation ..

Developing healthy sleep habits in children From birth, sleep is established as a critical element to overall health and general wellbeing. Getting adequate amounts of sleep helps the body to function at its highest level. When children are young, sleep is something they need, but might not be too interested in, instead favoring a couple extra minutes of playing outside or watching TV.  ..

Both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) & Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) individuals have a common problem – Dopamine deficiency. The difference lies at the major site of dopamine action. Both ADHD and RLS can cause disruptive problems with a need to move, but the treatment for each condition is different. ADHD requires an increased in CNS alertness while RLS requires an increase ..

In my Sleep Fellowship training at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, I was allowed the opportunity to work closely with both Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists.This experience afforded me an understanding that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Sleep disorders can often present together. Clinically, this can be challenging; particularly in children, where an a ..

Dr. Meir Kryger (Co-author of Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine) once told me that in 1970 – Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) was considered so rare that he was asked to give a grand rounds on it to his medical school. It was then considered a rare disease of fat old men. NO LONGER. Science has improved. OSA is a genetic problem. It occurs in men, women, and children. AND you don ..

Sleep. It’s one of those things we dreaded as children, look forward to as adults, and is absolutely essential to allow our bodies to function at their highest level. But, it’s not always easy to convince young children to go down for a nap or get ready for bed each night. By the time a child turns two, most have spent more time sleeping than awake. According the National Sleep Foundation ..

No matter what age you are, sleep is important. Making sure you are getting enough shut eye is extremely important for high school students, but it’s even more important for high school athletes. These athletes have a lot on their plates these days – hours of practices, games, training sessions, homework and keeping up with their friends and family. With all this going on, it can be easy for t ..

With the new school year just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing your family’s school year sleep schedules. Especially for children, sleep plays a critical role in growth and development, and not getting enough sleep can make it harder for children to focus, control their emotions, and learn and retain new information while they’re at school. To be sure your family is ready t ..

Many are quick to call a child’s hyperactivity or lack of focus in the classroom Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In fact, 11 percent of children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2011. If your child is having a hard time staying focused during the day, the real problem may be what happens at night. While obstructive sleep apneas (http://www.iowasleep.com/common-problems/o ..

How to Deal with Halloween Night Mares and Night Terrors While Halloween is a favorite holiday amongst children of all ages, it can often be a stressful time for parents. During Halloween season, children can be exposed to scary and sometimes disturbing costumes, causing them to become scared or alarmed. In some cases, this fear can be brought out while a child is sleeping, causing a ..