PATTERN OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Abstract

The disorder of cerebral palsy (CP) can be considered one of the popular causes of disabilities during the childhood period affecting mainly motor performance, but sensation, perception and cognition may also be affected. The clinical appearance of CP is very heterogeneous; from the mildly to the severely impaired, with mental retardation and extensively reduced motor function. Moreover, so many children with this disorder have also other impairments that can often affect their quality of life and their life expectancy. Sleep disturbances are more frequent in children with cerebral palsy compared to typically developing children, which have broad consequences that affect both the child and family. Cerebral palsy is considered a lifelong disorder; where approaches to intervention, whether at an individual or environmental level, should recognize that quality of life as well as social participation throughout life are what individuals with cerebral palsy seek, not only improved physical function. In the current study we aimed is to describe the pattern of sleep disturbances in children with CP after the age of 3 years and to evaluate the relationship between sleeps disturbances and neurological state. Summary & Conclusion 99 This descriptive study included 124 children with CP who were assessed for the presence of sleep disturbances using CSHQ. They were 80 males and 44 females with an age range from 4 to 10 years (mean 6.41 ± 1.6 years). Children identified as potential participants (Phase 1); were examined in the outpatient clinic of the IPGCS, throughout a period of eight months starting from June 2015 till the end of January 2016. Those who did not fulfill the inclusion criteria were excluded and 124 children with confirmed diagnosis of cerebral palsy were included in the present study (Phase 2). The study proposal was approved by the local ethical committee of the Institute of Post-graduate childhood studies. Researcher received an informed consent from parents. All children were subjected to the following: Intelligence quotient test using Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale V5, Electroencephalography, and The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire; the Arabic version, and Hemoglobin estimation. Results were collected, statistically analyzed and depicted as follows: (92.7%) of the children with CP were diagnosed clinically as spastic (pyramidal) type, while dyskinetic (extrapyramidal) and ataxic were diagnosed in (6.5%) and (0.8%) respectively.