Pediatric Sleep Disorders in Virginia and Maryland — Comprehensive Sleep Care Center

Common Sleep Disorders in Children

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea in children is often caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids and may present differently than adult sleep apnea. Children with sleep apnea may snore, breathe through their mouth, sweat excessively during sleep, wet the bed, or exhibit behavioral problems, hyperactivity, and poor academic performance — symptoms that can be mistaken for ADHD. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical.

Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood

Behavioral insomnia of childhood involves difficulty falling or staying asleep related to learned sleep associations or limit-setting difficulties. It is highly treatable with behavioral interventions.

Parasomnias

Parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, confusional arousals, and nightmare disorder. While often developmental and self-limiting, persistent or dangerous parasomnias warrant evaluation.

Restless Legs Syndrome in Children

RLS occurs in children and is often associated with iron deficiency. Children may describe leg discomfort as ‘growing pains’ and have difficulty falling asleep.

Narcolepsy in Children and Adolescents

Narcolepsy frequently begins in adolescence. Excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden muscle weakness triggered by emotion, and disrupted nighttime sleep in a child or teenager should be evaluated promptly.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Delayed sleep phase disorder is common in adolescents, causing difficulty falling asleep until very late and extreme difficulty waking in the morning. This is a biological circadian issue, not simply a behavior problem.