Insomnia

Also known as: Insomnia

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which children have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night.

What are the signs/symptoms?

  • Excessive Daytime Sleep
  • Sleeping difficulty
  • School performance problems
  • Irritability/mood swings
  • Depression
  • Hyperactivity
  • Decreased attention span
  • Aggression
  • Memory problems

What causes insomnia?

  • Caffeine (sodas, teas, energy drinks)
  • Stress
  • Medical disorders (asthma, eczema, heartburn, fibromyalgia)
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, Down Syndrome)

How is insomnia treated?

  • Change in bedtime habits
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Behavioral modification

Reviewed by: Mercedes Bello, MD

This page was last updated on: 9/16/2025 12:12:32 PM

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Sleep Disorders Two out of three children under the age of 10 years have some type of sleep problem. Sleep problems can be divided into two broad groups: dyssomnias and parasomnias.
Chronic Insufficient Sleep The repeated, continuous failure to get enough sleep each night (less than six hours) is known as chronic insufficient sleep.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders (CRD) Most frequently this refers to disruptions to sleep caused by interruptions to typical sleep patterns.
MWT Sleep Test The MWT sleep test, or maintenance of wakefulness test, examines how alert, or awake, you are during the day.
MSLT Sleep Study The MSLT sleep study is a test to measure how quickly you fall asleep at various intervals throughout the day. The test is used for diagnosing problems such as idiopathic hypersomnia or narcolepsy.