Sleep Deprivation and School-Age Children

Americans, it seems, sacrifice sleeping time in order to keep pace with their busy lifestyles. According to Sleepdex, an independent non-profit informational site dedicated to providing research and information on sleep problems, sleep deprivation is one of the "most pervasive health problems" in the U.S. today. The 2002 "Sleep in America" poll revealed that Americans average 1.5 less hours of sleep than they did a century ago. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation is not just a problem for adults. Studies of school-age children suggest that up to 40 percent of elementary students suffer from some sort of sleep problem that often results in sleep deprivation.

Causes

Sleep deprivation in children results from consistently getting too little sleep. Reasons range for sleep disorders that interfere with the child's ability to fall asleep or stay asleep to poor time management and inconsistent bedtimes.

Video games, television and computer activities may contribute to sleep deprivation in children. If unmonitored, children often attempt to stay up late playing games and ignore their body's need for rest.

Busy schedules leave children with little time at the end of the day for leisure activities. Those who participate in sports and extracurricular activities often find themselves arriving home late and attempting to finish homework before bed.

Effects

Sleep deprivation in children effects mood, behavior and academic performance in school. Not only do they awake grouchy and irritable from lack of sleep, unlike adults who may be able to "shake it off" with a cup of steaming coffee and a hot shower, irritability and grouchiness likely follows children throughout the day.

Positive interaction among peers declines significantly for children who are sleep deprived. Self-image suffers and social skills weaken. Inferior coping skills lead to behavioral problems in the classroom or on the playground.

According to the University of California News Office, researchers report that sleep plays a vital role in brain development. During sleep, waking experiences are consolidated converting memory into a permanent form. Sleep deprivation interferes with this important brain process and results in impaired cognitive abilities.

A study conducted by Dr. Avi Sadeh of Tel Aviv University reveals that children deprived of one hour of sleep a night perform more than two years below expectations on academic tasks in classroom settings.

Dr. Monique LeBourgeois of Brown University reports that it's not just getting enough sleep on school nights that affect academic performance. Young children who are allowed to stay up one hour later on weekends-even if they sleep later in the morning--score 7 points lower on school readiness tests. Interestingly, Dr Paul Suratt of the University of Virginia concluded that sleep deprived children also score 7 points lower on vocabulary tests and asserts that sleep deprivation may adversely affect children's IQ as much as lead exposure.

Whether the negative effects of sleep deprivation on brain development can be erased by getting adequate sleep is a matter of debate. Some researchers assert that damage is permanent and irreparable. Without further research into the long-term effects of sleep deprivation, the answer remains elusive. But, evidence is clear that children require adequate sleep to insure peak performance both academically and socially. By setting clear consistent bed times and reducing distractions, parents increase their child's chances for school success.

SOURCES:

New York News and Features. Snooze or Lose

University of California News Office. Sleep in Early Life May Play Crucial Role in Brian Development. 2001

Scielo Chile. Sleep in Brain Development. PATRICIO D. PEIRANO and CECILIA R. ALGARÍN

University of Michigan Health System: Sleep Problems