CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, May 2 - May 8, 2003 - 79
Sleep disorder may be root of behavioral problems
Sleep disorders
often unrecognized '
Children who suffer from poor
school performance, memory
lapses and behavioral problems
may have a relatively common
and treatable sleep disorder, ac-
cording to specialists at Texas
Children's Hospital.
"Children who have problems
in school may have sleep apnea,
an airway obstruction that causes
them to wake up often during the
night," said Dr. Daniel G. Glaze,
medical director of the Texas
Children's Sleep Center and asso-
ciate professor of pediatrics at
Baylor College of Medicine.
"Sleep disorders may be undi-
agnosed or misdiagnosed as other
problems, such as attention deficit
disorder," Glaze said. "Children
may act out in ways that resemble
hyperactivity when they just
aren't getting enough sleep."
Sleep disorders in children are a
fairly new area of treatment;
therefore, many pediatricians and
parents are unaware of the signs
and symptoms of sleep problems.
"Sleep disorders could be diag-
nosed and treated more effective-
ly if pediatricians would ask par-
ents about the child's sleep
habits," Glaze said. "Parents also
must be aware of sleep disorders
so they know when to consult a
sleep specialist."
A common sleep disorder in
children and teens is sleep apnea,
in which the airway is obstructed,
resulting in constant interruptions
in breathing and sleep.
About 10 to 15 percent of chil-
dren in the United States suffer
from sleep disordered breathing,
and 2 to 3 percent of children
have sleep apnea, which may be
cured once enlarged tonsils are re-
moved.
Symptoms of sleep apnea in-
clude interrupted breathing and
snoring. Children with these
symptoms may have school prob-
lems, poor memory and hyperac-
tivity.
In fact, many children who
seem hyper aren't getting enough
sleep and may move around try-
ing to stay awake, according to
Glaze.
Teenagers are at risk for sleep
apnea, and they may suffer from a
general lack of sleep that can lead
to a drop in grades and a higher
risk of auto accidents.
"Teens are notoriously active,
balancing school activities, jobs
and social lives," Glaze said.
"Teens need nine to 10 hours of
sleep, but they think they can get
by on as little as six hours. How-
ever, lack of sleep has a negative
impact on anyone."
At the Texas Children's Sleep
Center, specialists diagnose sleep
disorders by taking a careful sleep
history to identify children who
need overnight monitoring in the
sleep laboratory.
Monitoring includes recording
of brain activity, breathing effort
and airflow, oxygen intake and
extremity movement.
"The key to managing sleep
problems is awareness," Glaze
said. "Once a sleep disorder is di-
agnosed, it usually can be man-
aged with medication, lifestyle
changes or surgery in the case of
childhood sleep apnea.
When sleep is managed proper-
ly, both the patient and the family
experience a greatly improved
quality of life."
For details on the sleep center at
Texas Children's Hospital, visit
www.texaschildrenshospital.org.
Del Tech offers massage therapist training
Due to the growing local and national demand for
professional massage therapists, Delaware Tech's
Owens Campus has developed a comprehensive
training program. Free information sessions about
the program will be from 6 to 7 p.m., May 6, May 13,
May 28 and June 5, in the Arts & Science Center.
The three-semester, 554-hour massage therapy
program meets local licensing and national certifica-
tion standards and includes specialized training in
the art and science of massage therapy along with a
study of sound business practices. Graduates will be
prepared to take the national certification exam in
therapeutic massage and bedywork and gain entry-
level employment as massage therapists in private
practices, physical fitness facilities, hotels and re-
sorts, sports medicine clinics and health-care facili-
ties.
The program is designed to teach Swedish mas-
sage, deep-muscle massage and myofascial release
techniques through a combination of classroom, lab-
oratory and clinical experience. For more informa-
tion or to request a detailed brochure, call 854-6966.
Massage therapy student clinics offer reduced rates
Students in the massage therapy
program at Delaware Technical &
Community College, Owens
Campus, will be scheduling ap-
pointments for hour-long massage
sessions for only $30 as part of
their training program. Students
have been trained in Swedish
massage, deep muscle massage,
and myofascial release tech,
niques. Sessions are available Fri-
days and Saturdays on the week-
ends of May 2 and 3, 9 and 10,
and 16 and 17. Sessions will also
be June 6- 7. Friday appointments
may be made for 12:30, 1:45 and
3 p.m.; Saturday appointments are
scheduled for 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m.,
12:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Appointments may be sched-
uled by calling Sandy at 856-
5400, Ext. 3190.
For more information about the
massage therapy program at the
Owens Campus, contact Lori
Westcott at 855-5988.
Milford offers total
joint class monthly
Bayhealth Medical Center-Mil-
ford Memorial Hospital offers
monthly programs to help pa-
tients scheduled for total knee or
hip replacement surgery. During
the class, participants learn about
a plan of care for before, during
and after hospitalization. The
class concludes with an optional
tour of the inpatient nursing unit
and the physical/occupational
therapy department. The classes
are from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m., the
first and third Tuesday of the
month, in Milford Memorial Hos-
pital's Rehabilitation Center con-
ference room. For more informa-
tion, to register or to obtain a
schedule of class dates and loca-
tions, call 430-5362.
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