The Discovery of a New Pediatric Sleep Disorder By Lourdes DelRosso, MD
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frequent movements during sleep and daytime symptoms as a consequence of this poor sleep. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) for instance, manifests at bedtime with symptoms of leg discomfort, but children with RSD go to sleep well, without any problems. It’s just that once they are asleep, they move more than children without RSD and these movements interfere with sleep quality and contribute to daytime symptoms. Lourdes DelRosso, MD
ecently, I was a member of a group of international sleep researchers who developed consensus diagnostic criteria detailing a new sleep disorder in children called Restless Sleep Disorder or RSD. With this new discovery, we intend to improve clinical practice and promote further research.
For years, sleep experts have identified ‘restless sleep’ as part of other sleep conditions that can cause sleep disruption or nocturnal awakenings like obstructive sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. However, recent research in children has shown that restless sleep can also be a primary disorder, not always associated with another condition.
Adequate sleep is important for growth, memory, mental and physical health, social interactions, safe alertness during the day and many other functions. We, as sleep physicians, recommend and have guidelines on how much sleep should someone get. But we do not only need an adequate amount of sleep. We also need good quality of sleep. This is the main significance of RSD. It identifies children with poor sleep quality,
RSD has been studied in comparison with other sleep disorders showing individual and particular characteristics. Initially, research on children with RSD was started due to the need to better understand how these children slept. Dr. Judith Owens, an author on the journal article, as well as the current President of the International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA) explains, “Parents were concerned that children did not get enough sleep at night because they were “moving all night,” “trashing the bed,” or “sleeping like a helicopter”—various terms used by parents to characterize the sleep patterns of their children. Parents also noticed undereye dark circles, nextday fatigue, inability to concentrate
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author and speech pathologist/myofunctional practitioner with 38 years of clinical experience, Sharon Moore will explain: • The importance of sleep for kids • The good sleep formula • 7 tailored assessments to target sleep red flags • Simple environment and routine changes • How to address sleep disordered breathing, even before your kids are born • 20+ specialists who can help your kids sleep —sleepwreckedkids.com 23 | January/February 2021
