Sep. 21, 2005 Disturbed sleep in school children negatively
affects their school performance and various neurocognitive
abilities, according to an article recently published in the
Journal of School Health. This review of 21 studies found that
some causes of disturbed sleep are reversible and that affected
students can achieve better academic performance after
intervention. "In many cases, when disordered breathing at night
is the cause, intervention may not only improve sleep, but
improve academic performance as well," lead author Howard Taras,
MD explains. Poor sleep should be considered as one potentially
contributing factor when there is poor student performance.
"These children and their families should be asked about
regularity and duration of sleep, bedtime resistance, sleep
onset delay, night-wakings, sleep-disordered breathing, and
increased day-time sleepiness," the authors state. Studies have
yet to determine whether there are academic benefits of a later
start to the school day. Most children need