
-
Determine if the sleep problem is chronic, sudden, or occurs intermittently. Visit the screening tools section on the DocAssist website to access links to tools that assist in determining sleep related issues in children and adolescents.
- Ask about other problems associated with the sleep disturbance such as snoring, restless legs, or periodic limb movements.
- Look for medical and medication causes of sleep interference such as enlarged tonsils, asthma, nasal congestion, or use of corticosteroids, stimulants, albuterol, and drug-drug interactions.
- Consider environmental factors interfering with sleep such as a noise, nocturnal use of electronics, overcrowding, daytime napping, and poor sleep hygiene. Screen time has been found to impact sleep, help families institute a media plan to ensure good sleep hygiene.
- Assess for psychosocial stressors that effect well-being such as family chaos, loss of a relationship, academic pressure, and interpersonal conflicts
- Obtain a substance misuse history. Learn how to ask youth about substance use in this free webinar on pediatric substance misuse featuring DocAssist Medical Director, Diane Misch, MD.
- Many pediatric mental health issues impact sleep, and it is beneficial to identify the specific disorder, determine any comorbidities and provide first line treatment. Screening tools, treatment guidelines and specific topics are available on the Illinois DocAssist website.
- Educate families about the limited usefulness of sleep agents, importance of lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, consistent sleep habits, healthy diet, weight loss, and the need to treat underlying causes of insomnia. The American Academy of Pediatrics Health Children provides childhood sleep guidelines.
- Help families develop realistic expectations and interventions. Recommend use of a sleep diary to track patterns and progress.
- Call Illinois DocAssist for assistance in assessing and planning next steps in caring for your patients with sleep disturbances.