Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center Announced in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA - March 22, 2001

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offers the first and only multidisciplinary Sleep Disorders Center in the tri-state region dedicated exclusively to pediatrics - one of only 10 such centers in the United States. Children from birth through young adulthood are evaluated and treated at this Center for a full range of sleep disorders, from routine to rare.

"The goal of this facility is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and care of children with any type of sleep disorder. In addition, the members of our team are strongly committed to clinical research in order to understand the underlying conditions that precipitate sleep disorders throughout childhood," says Raanan Arens, M.D., director of Children's Hospital's Sleep Disorders Center.

Experts estimate that 20-25 percent of children nationwide suffer from sleep problems. Children's Hospital's Sleep Disorders Center provides a multidisciplinary approach to care, offering recommendations for medical, surgical or behavioral treatment. The center's multidisciplinary staff includes pediatric pulmonologist Raanan Arens, M.D., director; pediatric behavioral psychologist Jodi Mindell, Ph.D., associate director; pediatric neurologist Thornton Mason, M.D., Ph.D.; pediatric nurse practitioner Theresa Ward, C.R.N.P. and four registered polysomnography technologists.

Dr. Mindell says, "Since there are often multiple reasons why kids have sleep problems, it is important to have a multidisciplinary center for evaluation and treatment."

Established in 1994, the Sleep Disorders Center at Children's Hospital recently expanded to include two core components: On Wednesday afternoons, Children's Hospital offers a Sleep Disorders Clinic where patients receive a comprehensive assessment from a multidisciplinary team of pediatric experts. Children who require additional diagnostic testing (for medical problems, such as sleep apnea) are referred to the Sleep Disorders Laboratory, where they spend the night sleeping in one of four special observation rooms.

Each of the Laboratory's four rooms is equipped with low-level, infrared lights that allow the room to be dark while the patient continues to be monitored and observed. Specially mounted cameras videotape the patient's activities during sleep, with technologists providing round-the-clock monitoring. Young children are encouraged to bring a toy from home for comfort; a parent is required to spend the night sleeping in a bed next to his or her child.

A total of 16 electrodes are placed on each child during the night to record sleep activities, from brain function and breathing patterns to eye activity and muscle tone. More than 1,000 sheets of readings are recorded for each patient during the night, with two technologists present at all times to monitor patients and evaluate the recordings.

An overnight study often reveals the full extent of a medical problem. Treatment for upper airway obstruction often includes surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids. In more complicated cases, other surgical procedures are considered, as well as applying ventilatory support during sleep. For primary sleep disorders other than sleep apnea, behavioral modification and specific medications are also prescribed.

The Sleep Disorders Center also treats healthy children who may have problems sleeping through the night due to psychological or behavioral reasons. Pediatric behavioral psychologist Dr. Mindell works with patients and families, teaching specific behavioral techniques to help children develop better sleep patterns.

Children are different than adults, particularly when it comes to sleep. According to Dr. Arens, specific signs may indicate that a child has a respiratory sleep disorder. Symptoms during the night include snoring, difficulty breathing, restlessness and gasping for air. Symptoms during the day are primarily behavioral, such as crankiness, tiredness or hyperactivity - suggesting a sleep disorder related to the fact that a child's normal sleep is interrupted many times and appears fragmented. "These symptoms do not necessarily mean there is a problem, but if they are happening often, they should be checked out," says Dr. Arens.

The Sleep Disorders Center team also conducts clinical research pertaining to sleep disorders. Dr. Arens and his staff are currently involved in a study of 600 patients funded by the National Institutes of Health that relies on MRI technology to examine the lower face structure of healthy children versus children with sleep apnea.

Founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is ranked today as the best pediatric hospital in the nation by a comprehensive Child Magazine survey. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 381-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents from before birth through age 19.