Parasomnias: Disorders That Disrupt Sleep
A parasomnia is a disruptive physical act that occurs during slumber. People who suffer from walking or talking while asleep (somnambulism and somniloquy), or thrash around while dreaming have parasomnias. These physical acts may cause partial awakening, full awakening, or disturbances of sleep-stage transition.
While you or someone you know may experience one or more of these disorders, they are considered rare. The most common are talking while asleep, night terrors, starts (body jerks), and disorientation or confusion upon wakening. In many cases parasomnia activity is inherited.
Parasomnia and Childhood Sleep Disorders
Many childhood sleep disorders are actually types of parasomnia. Somnambulism, night terrors, bedwetting, talking while asleep, and body rocking are much more common in children than they are in adults. Most children outgrow these problems before adolescence. Parents may note an increase in frequency or intensity when their child is ill, under stress, or taking certain medications.
Childhood sleep disorders may go hand-in-hand with other conditions. In some cases a child with a rhythmic movement disorder, such as body rocking or head banging while falling asleep or moving from one stage to another, may also suffer from headaches, ear infections or sinus problems. Neurological disorders and apnea are associated with night terrors.
Sleep-onset delay is common among children; they cannot fall asleep until long after an appropriate bedtime. Bedtime resistance, a fancy way of saying the child doesn't want to go to bed, is also common. Children with these types of disorders often require less rest than other children their age.
