MAGNITUDE OF ADVERSE EFFECTS ON PARENTAL HEALTH DUE TO SLEEP DISTURBANCES IN THEIR CHILDREN WITH NEURODISABILITIES

Moderate to severe sleep problems are reported in 17% of infants and 11% of preschool children, these sleep problems are even more common in children with neurodisabilities and the prevalence rate as high as 75% to 80% has been reported.[1] The high prevalence of sleep problems in children with learning disabilities is particularly worrying since these sleep problems are associated with parental stress and add considerable burden on already stressed family.[2] The psychological effects of a child’s sleep disorder on other family members should not be overlooked. Parents may be seriously affected by the condition of their child or by persistently disrupted sleep caused by the child’s sleep disturbance. Depression, impaired parent-child relationships and parenting skills, marital disharmony and under functioning at work are all possible consequences. Other children in the family may also suffer.