Approximately 60% of children under the age of 11 experience some kind of sleep difficulty at least a few nights a week. A recent study conducted by published in the journal Sleep found that more than 80 percent of American children who visit a doctor because they have difficulty sleeping are given some form of prescription medication, even though no sleeping pills are currently approved for use in kids. The research was conducted at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in Columbus and complement a 2004 National Sleep Foundation poll that revealed that sleep difficulties are extremely widespread among the young. Specific medications included: about a third were prescribed antihistamines, a quarter alpha-2 agonists, 15% were offered benzodiazepines, and 6% antidepressants.
81% of these children and teens were prescribed medication for their sleep issues. Other recommendations included: 7% were recommended diet and nutritional counseling, 22 % were offered behavioral therapy, and 17% were offered mental health and stress management treatment. A combined regimen of medication plus behavioral therapy was prescribed in just under a fifth of cases. Patients who sought care from a psychiatrist were more than three times as likely to be prescribed a drug for their sleep trouble than those who visited a general practice physician.
Children having difficulty sleeping isn’t “normal”. Rather than simply treat the symptom it is important to figure out the cause – then we can more effectively correct the problem. Antidotally, my experiences as a psychologist have proven to me that therapy for sleep difficulties is very effective. It is critical to approach difficulties from a holistic perspective. In other words, assessing a child’s:
-          Diet: With particular focus on the level of caffeine intake as well as how close to bedtime he eating.
-          Exercise: How much physical exercise does the child engage in and when in the day is she most active.
-          Well-being: Areas to consider include what his school day like, anything new happening at home, is she being bullied or is he worried about upcoming tests, etc…? Often parents are surprised by the worries of a young person since to an adult they are not realistic. Without thoughtful discussion in a safe and relaxed environment, some kids never talk about their concerns and continue to have sleepless nights for long periods of time.
-          Home Life: How comfortable does the child feel in his room? Is the light and noise level appropriate for REM sleeping? Are parents fighting in the other room? How comfortable is the mattress?
-          Relaxation Techniques: Learning simple breathing techniques or body scanning strategies are a useful non-medication approach to falling asleep.