title: Sleep Patterns and Dysfunctions in Children with Learning Problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine the sleep patterns and dysfunctions in children with learning problems in comparison against a local population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of 200 children with learning problems and 372 parents of a local population-based sample of typically developing (TD) children were recruited to complete a questionnaire on their child's sleep patterns and sleep problems. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) is a validated parent-reported sleep screening questionnaire that contains 54 items identifying sleep behaviours in children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the sample was 4.2 years (SD: 1.4; range, 2 to 6 years). Sleep duration was similar between the 2 groups. The difference in mean CSHQ subscale scores between children with learning problems and TD children was significant for sleep-disordered breathing (1.3 vs 1.2,P= 0.001). Among children with learning problems, 36.5% snored (vs 26.6% of TD children), 30.5% had noisy breathing (vs 18.8%), and 9.0% (vs 4.6%) experienced difficulty breathing 2 or more times a week. Children with learning problems woke up in a more irritable mood (P= 0.01), had more difficulty in getting out of bed (P<0.001), and took a longer time to be alert (P<0.001). They exhibited fewer behaviours of daytime drowsiness (P= 0.009). Among this group of children, 15.0% of parents reported that their child had a sleep problem compared to 9.0% in the TD group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sleep breathing disorders and symptoms of morning sleepiness are more prevalent in children with learning problems. Symptoms of daytime lethargy are similar between the 2 groups. We suggest that a simple outpatient screening targeted at these problems be instituted in the initial workup of any child with learning difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health Systems, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ramkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aishworiya
authors.forename: Po Fun
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jennifer Sh
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kiing
authors.forename: Shang Chee
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Stacey Kh
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D012890:Sleep; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000070263:Sleep Hygiene; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012913:Snoring / Q000453:epidemiology*