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Sleep is one of the most important things in a child's life, but what if they're struggling to rest through the night? Conditions ranging from sleep apnea to night terrors raise a lot of questions, and East Tennessee Children's Hospital is working to find answers as the only pediatric sleep center in the region designed just for children.
Children's Hospital sleep specialist, Dr. Matthew Lundien, who is a Board Certified Diplomate with the American Board of Sleep Medicine and the only Board Certified Pediatric Specialist in this discipline in East Tennessee, explains. "Sleep medicine is a relatively new field for children and it's rapidly changing, but Children's Hospital has the best resources to help children get a good night's sleep. A child's physical and emotional needs are unique, and this is especially true when dealing with sleep issues. The way sleep studies are conducted with adults is most often neither appropriate nor successful for children. So, everything we do at Children's Hospital focuses on a child's unique needs during a sleep study. We make sure the kids we treat have nothing to fear. Sleep studies involve lots of tape and wire, but no needles. Our entire staff – from the physicians and nurses to all technicians – are experts in caring for children." What's commonly called a sleep study has a big medical name: a polysomnogram. The painless process involves an overnight stay and can help determine whether lifestyle, a health complication or a clinical disorder is responsible for lack of sleep. During the study, a child is comforted by favorite items from home and a parent close by.
Sleep disorders can be found in approximately one out of every four children from pre-school through elementary age. While it might seem more bothersome to parents than problematic, sleep problems may be an underlying cause of a much more serious health problem like hyperactivity or a developmental disorder. No matter what the problem is with your child's sleep, the Children's Sleep Medicine Center can evaluate the situation and make treatment recommendations that are best for your child.
Dr. Lundien answers questions about sleep problems Your child's primary care physician or pediatrician can refer you to the Children's Pediatric Sleep Medicine Center or you can call the Center's office directly at (865) 541-8478 and book an appointment. Or send an email to sleep@etch.com. |
Here are some of the many signs that might tell parents a child could benefit from a sleep study:
