Night awakenings can be difficult to deal with. Here we try to shed some light into the darkness of problems with sleep maintenance, with emphasis in children. Though some individuals complain about being able to fall asleep, others may have concerns that they are unable to stay asleep. This is a concern that… Read more »
There are certain cues that a person may associate with sleep. I like to work with examples. My primary example that I discuss with patients is a Hotel room. Many people when they go to a hotel they get great sleep (at least before children). You walk into the room, the bed is made, room… Read more »
Medication is NOT first line treatment for insomnia. Clinical Guidelines by the AASM state that Psychological and Behavioral treatments for insomnia are effective and recommended as first line treatment for insomnia (primary and secondary). Furthermore, the guidelines state that when a medication is used for insomnia, that it should be done in the setting of behavioral therapy…. Read more »
What is Insomnia? The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) states: Insomnia is defined as the subjective perception of difficulty with sleep initiation, duration, consolidation, or quality that occurs despite adequate opportunity for sleep, and that results in some form of daytime impairment. — That’s a long definition. In simple terms, Insomnia is difficulty sleeping despite… Read more »
What parents know and don’t know about sleep! In 2011 Dr. Judith Owens conducted a survey to examine parental knowledge about beliefs about healthy sleep. It was directed for parents of children from 3 months to 12 years of age. In her findings, nearly half the parents reported that children did not have consistent bedtimes… Read more »
