SLEEP PATTERNS IN READING DISABLED-CHILDREN

Sleep patterns in reading disabled (n = 24) and normal control (n = 15 ) 8-10-year-old boys were compared to examine suggested relationships among sleep, maturational and cognitive processes. Sleep was recorded in the laboratory for four consecutive nights (two adaptation, two bas eline) using standard polysomnography. Analyses revealed variations ac ross nights for both groups reflecting adaptation to the sleep laborat ory, but such effects were attenuated in reading disabled subjects. Gr oup comparisons on baseline sleep measures (nights 3 and 4 collapsed) revealed thai reading disabled children showed significantly more stag e 4 sleep, less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a longer REM onset lat ency and, related to this. an extended initial non-REM (NREM) cycle. C hronic sleep deprivation and maturational delay are prominent among fa ctors that could result in such variations in sleep architecture, and these factors, alone or in combination, could impair information proce ssing and contribute to cognitive deficits noted in reading disabled c hildren.