• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Narcolepsy
• Childhood Parasomnias
• Insomnia

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Snoring
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder called ADHD or ADD - attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, is a group of disorders of certain mechanisms in the central nervous system. New research suggests children who snore face nearly double the risk of being inattentive and hyperactive. Inadequate sleep can impair how well a child functions in school or an adult functions at work or with daily activities. When left unidentified there is risk for; impaired learning ability, decreased self-esteem, social problems, family difficulties and potential long-term effects.

Narcolepsy is a potentially disabling, lifelong condition which is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed years after symptoms first appear. This disorder is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and periods of muscle weakness called cataplexy. People with narcolepsy are unable to resist falling asleep, regardless of the number of hours slept the previous night. Narcolepsy can cause accidents and injury from falling asleep while driving or performing other dangerous tasks.

The Sleep Center of Central Illinois also provides diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in children, such as nightmares, sleepwalking, confusion arousals, sleep terrors and rhythmic movement. If you are concerned about your childís behavior during sleep a diagnosis can be made through a sleep history, physical examination and sleep test.

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep. The problem can result from stress, diet or many other factors. Insomnia almost always affects job performance and well-being the next day. It is often the major disabling symptom of an underlying medical disorder.

When load snoring is interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing, it is known as obstructive sleep apnea. During an episode, the person's effort to inhale air creates suction that collapses the windpipe. This blocks the air flow from anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute while the sleeping person struggles to breathe. When the person's blood oxygen level falls, the brain responds by waking the person enough to tighten the upper airway muscles and open the windpipe. Persons with this disorder may experience 30 to 300 episodes per night and with reduced blood oxygen levels, the heart pumps harder. Because of the lack of good rest, one may feel sleepy during the day, impairing job performance and overall well-being. People with sleep apnea are at a much higher risk for high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, automobile accidents and an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.

Forty-five percent of normal adults snore occasionally, and twenty-five percent are habitual snorers. Snoring occurs when the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula, striking each other and vibrate during breathing. Socially and medically, snoring can be serious. It disturbs sleep patterns and deprives the person of rest. Severe snoring can cause long-term health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS), is a disorder which causes crawling or tingling sensations in the legs with an urge to move them for relief. The constant need to move the legs to relieve the symptoms of RLS often prevents a person from falling asleep or staying asleep. Because of this, the person may be extremely tired during the day and may affect their daily activities. This disorder may also be a problem during the day by interfering with the length of time that one can sit still during travel, movies and meetings.

Another disorder that affects the limbs is known as periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). The movements of PLMD most often occur when the person is asleep where as the arms and legs jerk at regular intervals, usually every 30 seconds. Some people may not be aware of these movements during the night, but because they do cause brief awakenings, the person may feel sleepy during the day.