The scariest thing about sleep disorders could be that so many victims go undiagnosed. Parents, we just want the best for our children, right? Well, listen up because this could be your teen that we’re talking about. If your teenager has a hard time falling asleep at night, if it’s a battle to get them out of bed every morning, or if they’re sleepy throughout the day, they could be displaying a pattern of disturbed sleep. Your teen could be diagnosed with sleep disorders like narcolepsy, insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), sleep apnea, and nocturnal enuresis, or bed wetting. The significance of this lies in the fact that this pattern of disturbed sleep could be an early warning sign of even greater problems to come.
Not to mention all of the complications that go hand-in-hand with a lack of sleep! A sleepy teenager is more likely to experience problems with cognitive function. This could lead to greater problems in the future such as the development of learning disabilities, memory impairment, personality changes and depression, daytime sleepiness, mood swings, drowsy driving, poor grades, and even weight gain. In other words, if your teenager isn’t getting enough sleep because of sleep disorders that should be treated but aren’t, fighting to get them out of bed in the morning could be the least of your worries. A lack of sleep is a problem in itself, but the consequences of sleep deprivation tend to permeate into other aspects of life outside of the bedroom like school, relationships, and even health.
There are several things that you should be on the lookout for in your teens. Most common sleep disorders among teenagers include nocturnal enuresis, otherwise known as bed-wetting, sleep terror, rhythmic disorder (moving in sleep), insomnia (a lack of sleep or a disturbed sleep), teeth grinding (oftentimes due to stress), sleep walking, and sleep talking. If your teen displays any of these common sleep disorders, be sure to get the proper treatment for your loved ones before you start to see the chain reaction of consequences reach outside aspects like grades!
There are even things that you can do to prevent the development of sleep disorders and to get a good night of sleep for your kids. For example, cutting down their consumption of soft drinks, cold coffee, and nighttime snacking of chocolates will encourage a healthy sleep schedule for your teens. In addition, relieving or even reducing stress related to their studies will make getting to sleep a lot easier for them. Make sure that the television and video games are turned off at night too!
When it comes down to it, parents should stay aware and pay attention. Make it a habit to sleep at a proper time, and your children will be more likely to follow your example. Activities like listening to soft music and reading books encourages a healthy sleep pattern a lot more than violent video games and late night sitcoms. We know how important sleep is for a growing body and mind. We also know how much you love your children. We all want what’s best for the next generation!
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