R. Stores et al., THE PATTERN OF SLEEP PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, JARID. Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities, 9(2), 1996, pp. 145-159
This study investigates the occurrence and nature of sleep problems an
d behaviours in a group of children with Down's syndrome (n = 91) comp
ared with their siblings (n = 54), children from the general populatio
n (n = 78) and children with an intellectual disability other than Dow
n's syndrome (n = 71). A comprehensive questionnaire was sent to paren
ts asking about the general sleeping habits and arrangements of the ch
ild and the frequency of occurrence of a range of sleep disorders and
behaviours falling under the general headings of: disorders of initiat
ing and maintaining sleep, features associated with obstructive sleep
apnoea, other sleep disorders and behaviours occurring during sleep, a
nd sleep related disorders and behaviours occurring during the day. Ov
erall, children with Down's syndrome and children with other forms of
intellectual disability showed a greater number of sleep problems than
the siblings and children from the general population. However, where
as the sleep problems of the children with other intellectual disabili
ties, the siblings and children from the general population principall
y took the form of disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep, the
children with Down's syndrome were characterised by features suggestin
g sleep related breathing problems, i.e. restlessness, snoring, sleepi
ng with neck extended, apnoeic episodes, gagging or choking, and mouth
breathing. A number of significant age differences were found in the
occurrence of some sleep problems and behaviours. These were mainly in
the group with Down's syndrome. The implications of the findings are
discussed with reference to effective treatments and also the benefici
al effects these might have on cognitive and behavioural problems in t
hese children.