Parasomnias

Some of these behaviors can be harmless and require no treatment. These include sleep talking and auditory sensations like a loud bang. Others may be relieved by good sleep habits, behavioral treatments or medicines.

Parasomnia symptoms may include:

• Night terrors (when a child may sit upright suddenly, shout or flail about while asleep)
• Sleepwalking
• Nightmares
• Nocturnal eating

Education, reassurance and good sleep habits can help with parasomnias, which usually decrease with age.

Diagnosis of Parasomnias

A sleep team that includes a psychologist certified in behavioral sleep medicine and a pediatric doctor certified in sleep medicine can evaluate complex parasomnias and develop a treatment plan for your child. The sleep team at Riley at IU Health may use the following tools and tests to diagnose parasomnias:

• Sleep evaluation questionnaire. You will provide a detailed history of family and child sleep habits.
• Sleep diary. You or your child will keep a daily log of times when he or she is awake and asleep over a specified period of time.
• Video recording. You will make a home video (you can use your cell phone) of the behavior of concern. You will bring that with you to your child's appointment to share with the doctor.
• Sleep study with EEG. Overnight observation of your child sleeping will include an electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG detects electrical abnormalities in the brain and can help diagnose medical conditions that may cause parasomnias.