Sleep Disorders Reviews

Children With The Sleep Disorder Of Sleepwalking

Children With the Sleep Disorder of Sleepwalking

The sleep disorder of sleepwalking, also proclaimed as somnambulism, affects approximately 14 % of illustrate - age children between five and twelve years old at least once. Approximately one quarter of the children with this sleep disorder have more frequent episodes. Sleepwalking is more common in boys then it is in girls. Most children that sleepwalk outgrow the symptoms of this sleep disorder by adolescence as their nervous systems develop.

In children this sleep disorder is thought to be the result of the youthfulness of the brain's sleep / wake cycle. Normally the entire brain wakes up at the same time. However, in the case of a sleepwalker, the entire brain does not wake addition together. The portion that is responsible for locomotion wakes up occasion the portion responsible for cognition and awareness stays asleep. The child is actually in a deep state of sleep.

With this sleep disorder the brain remains partially asleep but the body is able to move. It is common for the sleepwalker to get out of bed and walk around. Sometimes they get dressed or go frontage. Even though the sleepwalker's eyes are open and they see what they are doing, their mirroring remains cipher. They do not respond to conversation or their name being called. A sleepwalker's movements usually recur clumsy. It is not uncommon for them to trip over furniture or knock over things as they move around. A sleepwalking episode usually happens one to two hours meeting the child goes to sleep. Most of these episodes last for fifteen minutes or less, but some can last for an hour or more.

This sleep disorder in children is usually outgrown and treatment is not generally necessary. In most cases, a parent gently guiding the child back to bed is all that is needed. There is not any need to wake the child.

However, there is about 1 % of the population that sleepwalk as adults. Adults that have this sleep disorder did not necessarily have it as a child. In adults a sleepwalking episode can be triggered by apprehension, anxiety, sleep fragmentation, sleep deprivation, or certain medical conditions such through epilepsy.

Treatment for adults with this sleep disorder is often dependent upon the amount of danger they are in during an episode. For example, a sleepwalker who opens doors and goes outside onto a busy city street is in danger. A sleepwalker that gets up and goes into the living room and sits down on a chair most likely is not in danger. Treatments can include behavioral therapies, self hypnosis, or prescription medication.

A sleepwalker, whether adult or boy, needs to have a safe area so that they do not get hurt during an episode. Precautions can be taken to eliminate some dangers. Parents should form sure the child's bedroom does not have share sharp or breakable objects. Doors should be locked at night to keep the sleepwalker from happening face. Sometimes present is necessary to put bells on doors to alert the sleeping parent that their child is sleepwalking. Large glass windows and doors should be covered with heavy drapery to lessen the befall of having the sleepwalker walk through it while it is closed.

A girl with the sleep disorder of somnambulism needs to be sheltered and kept safe during an episode. It is the environment they are in that is the danger more then the sleep disorder itself.