Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Sleep Troubles and Down Syndrome

A study published last week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that a high percentage of individuals with Down syndrome may have undiagnosed sleep apnea. Persons with DS tend to have large tongues and are prone to thyroid diseases, which are high risk factors for OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). Affected individuals can sleep up to one hour less each night than individuals without DS. You can read a summary of the study at Disability Scoop.

Does your child or family member have difficulty sleeping? CeDIR has two books available to help: Sleep Better: a guide to improving sleep for children with special needs by Vincent Durand and Solve your child's sleep problems by Richard Ferber. Email us if you're interested in either of these publications.

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