FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2007
Contact: Cyndi Alvarado (936) 760-7860
At The Woodlands Mall on April 28, 2007
The Woodlands, TX -- On Saturday, April 28, at 10 a.m., Sadler Clinic will sponsor a presentation entitled “Sleep Problems in Children.” Neurologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist Dr. Jerald Simmons is the featured speaker. The presentation will take place in Future Court at The Woodlands Mall (first level across from JC Penney).
A poll by the National Sleep Foundation found that a high percentage of children suffer from some kind of sleep problem. Sleep problems can affect children during the day. “This is definitely something parents need to know about,” Dr. Simmons notes. “If a child has trouble concentrating during the day or has symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD / ADHD), undiagnosed sleep problems could be the cause. Studies have shown that children who snore, have difficulty with night-time breathing, become restless at night, or twitch in their sleep, may have a sleep disorder and are more likely to suffer from ADHD, a condition which can dramatically affect their quality of life and that of their families.”
Recent studies have also linked sleep problems in children to poor academic performance and to childhood obesity, although a child does not have to be obese to have this type of problem. There are, however, steps that parents can take to improve their child’s quality and quantity of sleep. Parents need to be consistent about enforcing a regular bedtime and ensure that their children avoid playing stimulating video games just before going to bed. Other simple steps to ensure good sleep include avoiding caffeinated or sugared foods late in the day and ensuring that the child’s bedroom is comfortable, quiet, and “sleep-friendly.”
Some sleep problems in children, however, need specialized medical attention and supervision. Parents should consult a sleep medicine specialist if they observe any of the following in their child: problems with breathing; consistently high level of irritability during the day; snoring at night; awakening frequently at night, restlessness while in bed; frequent kicking or twitching movements during sleep; excessive teeth grinding during sleep; daytime sleepiness and / or difficulty in concentrating.
Jerald Simmons, Director of Sadler Clinic’s Sleep Disorders Center, is a Neurologist and Sleep Disorders Specialist who is board-certified in Sleep Medicine, Clinical Neurophysiology, and Neurology. Prior to joining Sadler Clinic, he served as Co-Director of the UCLA Sleep Disorder Center in Los Angeles after having finished his training in Sleep Disorders Medicine at Stanford University. Dr. Simmons earned his MD degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and did his Neurology Residency at Washington University in St. Louis Missouri.
For more information, contact Cyndi Alvarado at 936.760.7860 or calvarado@sadler.com.