Sleep Disorder Centers

Children's Sleep Disorder Programs

Sleep problems are as common in children as they are in adults. A child refusing to go to sleep at night, or awakening multiple times during the night, can often become a nightmare for the entire family. Fortunately, professional help is available.

Children vary in the amount of sleep they need each night. But one thing is consistent for all children: inadequate sleep can have serious consequences. Late bedtimes, nighttime awakenings and early waketimes can all lead to chronic sleep deprivation.

Sleep-deprived adults are relatively easy to spot. They're the first to fall asleep watching television or during a meeting at work. But sleep-deprived kids generally display a broader spectrum of daytime symptoms. As a child reaches school age, sleepiness often manifests itself as a loss of behavioral control, deterioration in academic performance or a specific development delay. Distractibility, restlessness and poor impulse control are all hallmarks of the sleep-deprived child. Recent research indicates that a large portion of children with symptoms suggestive of attention deficit disorder may actually be suffering from an undiagnosed sleep disorder.

Mercy Children's Sleep Disorders Program
Combining the professional resources of Mercy Children's Hospital (MCH) with the expertise of the Mercy Sleep Disorders Centers, the Children's Sleep Disorders Program is the only program in Northwest Ohio to provide comprehensive evaluation, treatment and consultation for children with sleep disorders.

Patients are first evaluated in the the Sleep Disorders Clinic at MCH by a team of specialists, including professionals in pediatric pulmonology, pediatric behavior and development and pediatric sleep. On many occasions, treatment can be initiated at this first visit by one of our physicians or sleep specialists. Other specialists on staff at MCH are also available for consultation when necessary.

More complex cases may require an overnight evaluation in one of our Sleep Disorder centers in order to take a closer look at what physically happens during your child's nighttime sleep.

Results from your child's evaluation, along with his or her progress in treatment, are sent back to the referring physician.

Preparing your child for a polysomnogram.

Mercy Tiffin and Willard
Mercy Hospital of Tiffin and Mercy Hospital of Willard also offer children's sleep disorder evaluations.