Sleep issues

We spend nearly one third of our lives asleep. Good sleep patterns are essential to the correct functioning and development of children, as the mind uses this ‘down-time’ to process information gathered throughout the day. Without adequate sleep a child can start to slow in their cognitive development, which can ultimately affect their acquisition of more complex language skills.

Although some alteration in general sleep patterns is to be expected amongst all children, the problem becomes an issue once a pattern of routinely abnormal sleep behaviour develops. This impacts on the child’s life and that of the immediate family, as children tend to want to tell their parents when they can’t sleep, thus breaking the adult’s sleep patterns as well. This can be in babies right through to teens!

What causes sleep issues?

The actual cause of an abnormal sleep pattern can be very difficult to determine without expert help. Children who have suffered extreme trauma are obvious candidates for the development of sleep issues, but the repetitive pattern of disrupted sleep without a known cause may be a symptom of another, underlying problem such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety, Oppositional Defiance Disorder or even a neurological condition. It can also be a pure and simple case of behavioural patterns developing. The subsequent exhaustion that poor sleep patterns induce may then lead on to further complications, both physically (in the long term) and in behavioural patterns such as aggression and challenging behaviour.

Sleep issues can range from constant waking up and disturbing other members of the family to nightmares, sleepwalking, night terrors and bed-wetting. Some children may actually have a deep fear of going to bed, and as with all sleep issues, the root cause has to be established before progress can be made.

How can Verbal Behaviour Therapy help?

Verbal Behaviour therapists approach sleep issues in such a way as to try to determine the root cause or trigger of the pattern and encourage the child to vocalise it so that both the learner and their family can understand the reasons behind the problem. If a child is genuinely frightened of ‘monsters under the bed’, it may be a manifestation of a deeper worry or anxiety. By encouraging the child to vocalise their fear in an understandable way, therapists and the learner’s families can re-set the perimeters of the child’s perception of the situation (effectively banishing the monster from the room and re-establishing the bedroom as a safe place to be). Cognitive Behavioural therapy can also be combined with VB to allow the child to re-take control over this aspect of their life by giving them the chance to manifest the ‘monster’ through drawing or discussion.

More fundamental sleep problems associated with neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Acquired Brain Injury or Autism are also subject to treatment using VB. In these cases it is through the development of communication skills that a child can come to understand exactly why they have trouble sleeping.

In many cases sleep disturbances are simply about establishing a good pattern of bedtime behaviour and routine. We find that all most families need is a definite plan of action from an expert. After all, knowledge is always the key. However, we do know how hard it can be for parents and family members to be consistent when sleep deprived themselves! So we are on hand to offer you continual support. We even have therapists who can come into your home to establish the routines with you.

At VBC, we understand how complex sleep issues can be, and how exhausting they can be on the entire family. Through a network of support groups, counselling and the application of Verbal Behaviour, we can help restore a semblance of normality to bedtime routines. For further information on how we can help both you and your child, contact us direct and in confidence for more details.

Establishing a sleeping routine (PDF)