Sleep deprived and so I cried

It is interesting how this following study was presented (from: HealthyChildren.org).  We probably all know that sleep affects children's demeanor and behavior.  My first step with any new client is to do a full clinical interview with the parents, and sleep habits are ALWAYS discussed, although I may never have asked about snoring per se!  Please read:

Children who snore or who have other sleep-related breathing problems are more likely to have behavioral problems years later, according to a large, population-based study in the April 2012 Pediatrics.

The study, “Sleep-Disordered Breathing in a Population-Based Cohort: Behavioral Outcomes at 4 and 7 Years,” published online March 5, asked parents in England about their children’s snoring, mouth breathing, observed apnea and behavior, starting at age 6 months and periodically until age 7 years.

By age 4, children with sleep-disordered breathing were 20 percent to 60 percent more likely to have behavioral difficulties. By age 7, they were 40 percent to 100 percent more likely. The worst symptoms were associated with the worst behavioral outcomes.

Study authors conclude that sleep-disordered breathing early in life has strong effects on behavior later in childhood, possibly because of increased vulnerability during a critical period of brain development when there is the greatest need for sleep. The study findings suggest that these symptoms may require attention as early as the first year of life. 

HealthyChildren.org - Snoring Linked to Behavior Problems in Children

Anorexia...The signs

Another great list from Healthychildren.Org.  If you had ever wondered about your child's eating habits, or sudden obsession with weight and/or exercise, take a few minutes to answer the questions below... 

Warning Signs of Anorexia

If you answer “Yes” to several of these questions, talk with your child and pediatrician. (I would also say consult with a psychologist/psychotherapist as well)

• Does your child skip family meals and prepare her own food instead?
• Is she following her own diet?
• Are certain food groups or nutrients categorically excluded?
• Are no- or low-calorie foods and drinks a major part of daily intake?
• Has she adopted a “healthy” vegetarian diet suddenly and obsessively?
• Are diet pills or preparations in her possession?
• Is she overly concerned with losing or gaining weight?
• Have you found laxatives that you did not give her?
• Does she hide food in her room?
• Does she visit the bathroom after eating?
• Does she flush the toilet, run water, or turn on the shower while in the bathroom?
• Has your plumbing repeatedly and inexplicably become clogged?
• Does she have an unusual number of scratches or cuts over her knuckles?
• Does she have swollen cheeks or lymph nodes around her face, or broken blood vessels in the whites of her eyes?
• Has she lost a lot of weight in a short time?
• Does she look gaunt?
• Does she get dizzy or is she easily fatigued?
• Does she have frequent headaches, heartburn, or constipation?
• Have her periods stopped?
• Does she play with her food without actually eating it?
• Has she developed downy hair on her face, arms, and back?
• Can you see the bones of her back and collarbones clearly outlined?
• Does she have bruises along her backbone?
• Does she wear loose, bulky clothing?
• Does she exercise for hours on end with a routine that can’t be interrupted or changed?
• Has she become withdrawn from her friends or family?
• Does she seem more secretive?

***Please keep in mind that anorexia affects boys as well, but it is not often written about or discussed...