An Overview On Insomnia In Children

The article below will give you an overview of insomnia in children. It will provide you with data about the age group commonly reported to have the most number of insomnia cases based on conducted studies. Symptoms are also enumerated. However, the causes and treatment will be discussed separately.

Children Sleeping Have you seen your child lately? Did you observe his frequent night awakenings or have you heard complaints from his teacher that he is lacking concentration in class? Has he been in the front of the computer or TV all night and it seems that he is not sleeping on time? You need to talk to him before it gets too late. He could be encountering some sort of insomnia in children.

Like adults, your child may also suffer from insomnia. Insomnia is a condition when your child has difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or he doesn’t feel rested after a night’s sleep. Insomnia in children is common. They experience this from time to time and the reasons behind it may be similar to what the adult’s experience. Children who have trouble falling asleep can also give insomnia to their parents because of their frustration to get the child to sleep.

The occurrence of insomnia in children and infants

School age children (ages 6 to 12) are reported to have the most number of cases suffering from insomnia. Let us bear in mind that during this stage, your child may be having a hard time adjusting to school work and puberty. At this age, the child needs to be competitive and he then wants to prove something by joining activities such as school sports, theater plays, and contests. If his goals are not met or he gets too tired by doing such activities, he can have trouble sleeping.

Infants are also frequent victims of insomnia. Parents, especially the new ones tend to spoil their babies by giving too much attention when the baby cries. The next articles will discuss why this practice should be avoided.

Diagnosis and symptoms of insomnia in children

Diagnosing insomnia in children is trickier. Since adults can vent their feelings and can readily talk to their friends or counselors, children tend to hide their emotions. This alone makes it harder for the doctor to rule medical or psychological conditions that may be masking the cause of insomnia.

Aside from feeling sleepy during the day, your child may have the foregoing symptoms when he has insomnia:

• Mood swings
• Hyperactivity
• Depressive moods
• Irritability
• Aggressiveness
• Difficulty in remembering
• Lack of concentration
• Decreased attention span

Having read an overview of insomnia in children, as a parent you are responsible for consulting your doctor if such symptoms are seen. Medications for insomnia are not prescribed to children unless it is urgently needed. Cognitive behavioral therapies like hypnosis and sleep hygiene training are recommended.

Preventing insomnia in children at its onset is possible. If you do not want your child ending up in cases such as idiopathic insomnia, then try to be a blessing to him by helping him get a cure. Your role as a parent extends to wider and better possibilities for your child to get immediate treatment. Make sure you go to your doctors as soon as possible.

Tags: cognitive behavioral therapy, diagnosing insomnia, hypnosis, idiopathic insomnia, infants, insomnia, insomnia in children, sleep hygiene, symptoms of insomnia in childr

Click here to see Top Rated Insomnia Treatment Products Reviewed by Our Staff