Sleep Disorder &
Teenagers
How Are Teenagers Affected By Sleep Disorder?
There is a sleep disorder which affects between 7 –
10% of teenagers known as Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, also
known as DNS. Most teenagers will grow to outgrow this disorder
by the time they reach young adulthood. Less then one percent
of adults are believed to have DSP. Most of the time, people
will mistake this sleep disorder for insomnia.
When they are alone, people with delayed sleep phase disorder
often stay up until very late, sometimes even up to 4 or 5
a.m. They like to get up very late in the morning or early
afternoon. They are being labeled as night owls.
Many teenagers like to stay up late and sleep late in the
morning. Sometimes this is because they want to socialize
at night. However, it could also due to the natural delay
in the circadian sleep and wake rhythm at their age of development.
Teenagers who suffer from this sleep disorder often will
have a tough time getting up in the morning for school. Even
if they go to sleep at a regular time, such as 11 p.m., they
will toss and turn for hours like someone with insomnia. However,
the difference is, unlike an insomniac, people who suffer
from delayed sleep phase disorder have no difficulty staying
asleep. But, they face a problem of getting up early in the
morning. Teenagers who suffer from this sleep disorder are
very tired during the day and some of them may even fall asleep
in the classroom. The root cause of this sleep disorder is
not known. It is known for certain that it is a circadian
rhythm problem.
Treatment for this sleep disorder is available for people
that need to get onto a more traditional sleep or wake schedule.
The types of treatment include, bright light, chronotherapy,
melatonin and over- the-counter prescribed sleeping pills.
| 
