DID YOU KNOW...



Children with CHARGE syndrome frequently develop moderate to severe
behavior difficulties and are often diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive
disorder, attention deficit disorder, Tourette syndrome, and autism.
Anecdotal reports have indicated that sleep is also affected.



However, the prevalence and types of sleep disturbance have not been
identified. This study investigated sleep disturbances in 87 children
with CHARGE syndrome, aged 6 to 18 years (mean 11y, SD 3y 8mo). There
were 52 males and 35 females represented.



Instruments included measures of sleep (Sleep Disturbances Scale for
Children [SDSC]), behavior (Developmental Behaviour Checklist [DBC]),
and carer well-being (Malaise Inventory).



On the SDSC, 57.5% received scores considered significant for sleep
disturbances, with disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep, sleep
breathing, and sleep-wake transition being the most common. The SDSC was
significantly correlated with the DBC (p=0.010) and the Malaise
Inventory (p=0.003).



Regression analysis found that both problem behavior and sleep
disturbances contributed to the prediction of scores on the Malaise
Inventory.



Being both deaf and blind (p=0.001), experiencing frequent middle-ear
infections (p=0.015), and starting to walk at an older age (p=0.007)
were associated with more sleep disturbance.



Craniofacial anomalies were not. The study highlights the importance of
addressing the sleep difficulties associated with CHARGE syndrome
relating both to airway management and to disorders of initiating sleep.





Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008 Nov 19.



Sleep disturbances in CHARGE syndrome: types and relationships with
behavior and caregiver well-being.

Hartshorne TS, Heussler HS, Dailor AN, Williams GL, Papadopoulos D,
Brandt KK.





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