Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a disorder that affects about 1% to 15% of the population. This condition is more prevalent among children than in adults.
If your child happens to be suffering from somnambulism, it is imperative that you are aware of the causes, signs, treatments and everything else that this disorder entails.
Sleepwalking or somnambulism is a condition that involves the performance of several activities, mainly walking – when the person in question is asleep. The kind of activities that a sleepwalker performs ranges from merely getting up and looking out of the window, to even going out of the house and walking long distances.
How Common Is It In Kids?
Sleepwalking happens to be more common in kids than in adults. An estimate of 1% to 15% of the general population suffers from this disorder, more than half of which are kids. It has been observed that if the child has been sleep-deprived or is tired, the chances of that child having a sleepwalking episode is more likely.
Sleepwalking by itself is not harmful to your child, but the fact that the child isn’t aware of what he or she is doing can prove to be hazardous. This is a given, because if your child strolls out of the house, or climbs downstairs, then he or she might get hurt. There have been instances when children have walked out on the street, only to find themselves lying in an unknown location in the morning. Having said this, you will have to worry about what your child does while having a sleepwalking episode, than worrying about the fact that your child has this condition at all.
A few causes of sleepwalking in kid include –
When you hear the term sleepwalking, the first thing that you associate it with is walking during sleep. However, walking while asleep is not the only sign of this disorder. There are endless signs and symptoms of sleepwalking, and these are a few of the most common signs among children:
The diagnosis for sleepwalking includes an examination of the sleep patterns and the history concerning the sleepwalking episodes that the child has had. A physical exam is administered as well, where the patient is examined for nightmares, seizures during sleep and panic attacks. In some cases, nocturnal sleep study or polysomnography is administered, wherein the child is made to spend the night overnight in the lab, and the brain waves, heart rate, oxygen levels, REM, and leg movements are observed.
To treat somnambulism, you need to go down to the roots, because this is usually caused by underlying issues like sleep deprivation, stress or anxiety. So when you get to the root or the cause, treating this disorder becomes much easier. Several treatment options can help with this disorder, but in most cases, a child stops having episodes of sleepwalking once he or she hits the teenage years.
In some cases, the causal factor for sleepwalking is drugs and certain medications. Consult your doctor for an alternative that does not have sleepwalking as its side effects.
Therapy and counselling can help with sleepwalking as well. A few sessions of stress reduction and sleep therapy has helped a great deal.
A lot of children experience sleepwalking episodes, and this gradually decreases once the child hits the teenage years. You can keep this preventive measures in mind to avoid sleepwalking episodes in the future –
As mentioned before, sleepwalking in itself is not harmful, but the activities that are performed during each sleepwalking episodes is what can cause real harm. If your child is a sleepwalker, then it is imperative that you do everything in your control to keep your child safe, so that he or she isn’t harmed during these episodes.
Sleepwalking is a disorder that affects a lot more people than you think. In most cases, you will see a gradual decrease in the number of sleepwalking episodes. In some cases, your child might engage in inappropriate activities like urinating in the wardrobe, kicking or screaming. This can be upsetting, but you need to realise that your child has no control over his or her episodes. You need to be patient and understanding. Resorting to punishment is a strict no, as this can help trigger the situation and it can take a turn for the worse. Talk to your child, and in case the episodes become more frequent, get in touch with a therapist.
A few home care tips that you can keep in mind when dealing with a sleepwalking child are –
Sleepwalking is a disorder that can be upsetting, especially if your little one is suffering from it. But with the right treatment and therapies, you can help treat it. Make sure you follow the above tips, treatment and precautionary measures so that your child stays safe.