Having a good night’s sleep is significant for the emotional and mental health of children. Children need long hours of uninterrupted sleep for their growth and development. But sleep issues are common among children especially the younger ones. The amount of sleep children have is related to mental health problems such as depression, impulsive behavior, anxiety, and poor cognitive performance in their lives. Constant periods of disturbed sleep has a significant impact on the mental health of the whole family. It affects the capability of parents to function properly during the day and also impacts the lives of other children in the family.
Sleeping disorders in children
Some of the issues related to sleeping disorders in children include a reluctance on part of the child to go to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night, sleepwalking, and nightmares. Some children suffering from mental health problems requiring special attention such as those suffering from autism appear to have difficulties in establishing sound sleeping patterns.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA or the Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common problem that affects mental health in children of today. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea are snoring with occasional pauses, sleep disruption, and choking or gasping. Many times the children with snoring and OSA issues have large tonsils and adenoids. Some children are obese and have allergies. There are the following consequences of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Bedwetting, daytime sleepiness, hyperactivity, abnormal growth, behavioral and learning problems. For the treatment of OSA, these measures are taken such as weight loss, nasal steroids, management of allergic rhinitis, antibiotics, and removal of tonsils and adenoids which is the last resort. Many times CPAP is also used for the treatment of mental health problems like Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Remedies for sleeping disorders in children
There are certain self-help measures suggested for the treatment of children suffering from sleeping disorders which is the primary reason for mental health problems in children. It will also be a good idea to maintain a diary for the child in question and show it to the doctor at the time of treatment. Medication will be the last resort for treating sleep disorders as the medication is habit-forming and will not treat the root cause of the issue. Remember, excessive sleep and the reluctance of the child to get up also has to be investigated. This suggests depression or other similar mental health issues. The anxiety ad depressive symptoms in youngsters are also reduced by using a magnetic stimulation treatment called TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). You will find more information about TMS treatment at The TMS Advantage.
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