Things that go Bump in the Night
Sleepwalking is experienced by as high as 40 per cent of children but what causes it and how can it be stopped before it causes serious injury?
Sleepwalking, formally known as somnambulism, is a behavior disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep. It is much more common in children than adults and usually occurs between the ages of three and seven. There is also a higher instance of sleepwalking among children who wet the bed. Sleep terrors are a related disorder and both tend to run in families.
Sleepwalking usually involves more than just walking during sleep; it is a series of complex behaviors that are carried out while sleeping, the most obvious of which is walking. Symptoms range from simply sitting up in bed and looking around, to walking around the room or house. It most commonly happens an hour or two after sleep onset and may last five to 20 minutes. A common misconception is that a sleepwalker should not be awakened. In fact, it can be quite dangerous not to wake a sleepwalker. Because they typically remain in deep sleep throughout the episode, he or she may be difficult to awaken and will probably not remember the incident.
SymptomsSleepwalking is most often initiated during deep sleep but may occur in the lighter sleep stages or NREM, usually within a few hours of falling asleep, and the sleepwalker may be partially aroused during the episode.
In addition to walking during deep sleep, other symptoms of sleepwalking include:
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Sleeptalking
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Little or no memory of the event
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Difficulty arousing the sleepwalker during an episode
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Inappropriate behavior such as urinating in closets (more common in children)
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Screaming (when sleepwalking occurs in conjunction with sleep terrors)
Violent attacks on the person trying to awaken the sleepwalker.
Treatment.
There is no specific treatment for sleepwalking. In many cases simply improving sleep conditions may help to eliminate the problem. If your child is experiencing symptoms, you should talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist about ways to prevent injury during the episodes and about the possibility of underlying illness.
It is important to remember though that sleepwalking is common in children and is usually outgrown over time, especially as the amount of deep sleep decreases. If symptoms persist through adolescence, however, do consult your doctor or psychiatrist.
Coping.
As sleep deprivation often contributes to sleepwalking, increasing the amount of time scheduled for sleep can be helpful by making bedtime earlier. Other possible triggers for sleepwalking include certain medications. Also, experts recommend establishing a regular, relaxing routine prior to bedtime to cope with sleepwalking. Helping your child wind down before bedtime may also help. You can do this by reading them a story, and avoiding sugary foods and any activities that may excite them.
Creating a safe sleep environment is critical to preventing injury during sleepwalking episodes. For example, if your child sleepwalks, don’t let him or her sleep in a bunk bed. Also, remove any sharp or breakable objects from the area near the bed, install gates on stairways, and lock the doors and windows in your home.
Case Study
Six-year-old Sarah Parry from the Wirral has been known to get up and wander in her sleep ever since she first learnt to walk.
Mum Jean says: “She often sits up in her bed and thinks she is on the toilet. However recently I found her sat downstairs crying in the middle of the night. When I asked her about it the next morning she had no idea what I was talking about it.”
Sarah tends to sleepwalk when she is overtired, so Jean tries to keep her bedtime early and regular each night. She also has to monitor what she watches on television as she has a very active and vivid imagination.
Research shows that sleepwalking may be genetic, and as Jean explains, there is no exception with her family: “I slept walked as a child and once even mistook my brother’s chair for the toilet! My brother also had an incident where he was found banging his head against the radiator in his sleep!”
Sarah’s sleepwalking doesn’t worry Jean too much a she is used to it. She was, however, concerned when they were having building work on their house and the banister was removed. She says: “I made my husband put up a make-shift banister because it worried me that she could have fallen from the top of the stairs.”
Jean doesn’t feel the need to consult a doctor about her daughter’s sleepwalking as it doesn’t disrupt the rest of the family too much and she is hoping that Sarah will grow out of it the same way she did. Jean says: “Making sure she has enough sleep and doesn’t watch anything on television that may give her nightmares seems to do the trick.” Visit http://www.sleepfoundation.org/ for more information.
