%0 Journal Article
%T Sleep Health Issues for Children with FASD: Clinical Considerations
%A James E. Jan
%A Kwadwo O. Asante
%A Julianne L. Conry
%A Diane K. Fast
%A Martin C. O. Bax
%A Osman S. Ipsiroglu
%A Elizabeth Bredberg
%A Christine A. Loock
%A Michael B. Wasdell
%J International Journal of Pediatrics
%D 2010
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2010/639048
%X This article describes the combined clinical experience of a multidisciplinary group of professionals on the sleep disturbances of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) focusing on sleep hygiene interventions. Such practical and comprehensive information is not available in the literature. Severe, persistent sleep difficulties are frequently associated with this condition but few health professionals are familiar with both FASD and sleep disorders. The sleep promotion techniques used for typical children are less suitable for children with FASD who need individually designed interventions. The types, causes, and adverse effects of sleep disorders, the modification of environment, scheduling and preparation for sleep, and sleep health for their caregivers are discussed. It is our hope that parents and also researchers, who are interested in the sleep disorders of children with FASD, will benefit from this presentation and that this discussion will stimulate much needed evidence-based research. 1. Introduction Many children diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have long-standing sleep disturbances which interfere with their daily activities, cognition, behaviour, health, and management. Without appropriate treatment of sleep difficulties, the effectiveness of all interventions may be markedly reduced. Yet, sleep health is so neglected that there is an absence of comprehensive literature on it and its management. The purpose of this article is to summarize the clinical experience of several professionals familiar with FASD and sleep disturbances in order to provide information to the caregivers and promote badly needed evidence-based research. There is an increasing awareness of FASD among professionals, and FASD is now recognized to be a major health concern worldwide. It is a spectrum of effects caused by exposure to alcohol during gestation which effects include physical, neurological, behavioural, cognitive, and other disabilities, with lifelong implications. Alcohol, a powerful teratogen, can interfere with brain development throughout gestation resulting in a vast array of neurodevelopmental problems. The incidence of FASD is approximately 9.6/1000 live births in the North American population. In comparison, full fetal alcohol syndrome which requires characteristic craniofacial dysmorphology, growth restriction, and cognitive abnormalities, is only 1¨C3/1000 live births [1¨C7]. Many children with FASD have the same severity and complexity of cognitive deficits but without the characteristic physical features [8]. These
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijpedi/2010/639048/