Sleep Problems and Down Syndrome

The Pediatric Sleep Center Offers Comprehensive Sleep Assessment and Treatment for Children with Down Syndrome

Our board-certified sleep specialists at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Pediatric Sleep Center know all about children with Down syndrome and sleep disorders. A genetic disorder, Down syndrome involves birth defects, intellectual disabilities, characteristic facial features and often heart defects, visual and hearing impairments and other health problems.

Poor Sleep Increases Family Stress

Many children with Down syndrome have problems sleeping that increase stress for both the child and family. Common sleep problems with Down syndrome may include the following:

• Bedwetting at night
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Early morning waking
• Gasping for breath while sleeping
• Snoring
• Trouble falling asleep

Sleep Study for Children with Down Syndrome

University Hospitals Pediatric Sleep Center offers highly skilled sleep specialists that are experts in evaluating children with Down syndrome and sleep problems. After undergoing a comprehensive sleep study or polysomnogram (PSG) at the Pediatric Sleep Center, doctors may diagnose a child with Down syndrome with one or more of the following sleep disorders:

• Circadian rhythm disturbances
• Excessive daytime sleepiness and narcolepsy
• Insomnia
• Night terrors and nightmares
• Restless legs or periodic limb movement disorder
• Sleep apnea and snoring

Treatment for Better Sleep

Our sleep specialists prescribe effective treatment for quality sleep once a diagnosis is made. Because children with Down syndrome have unique health problems, we work collaboratively with board-certified specialists to diagnose and treat the sleep disorder, including:

• Allergy and immunologists
• Cardiologists
• Child life specialists
• Craniofacial specialists
• Development and behavioral pediatricians
• Dentists and orthodontists
• Endocrinologists and specialists in childhood obesity
• Gastroenterologists
• Geneticists
• Neonatologists
• Nephrologists (kidney and hypertension)
• Neurologists and/or specialists in children’s epilepsy
• Otolaryngologists (ENT)
• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Pulmonologists (lung doctors)
• Rheumatologists
• Surgeons
• Urologists