Sleep disorders are common in children and adolescents. They have diverse daytime manifestations which may go unrecognized. The negative impact on learning, growth, mood, and behavior can exact a serious toll on both children and their parents. Symptoms of childhood sleep disorders may be commonly dismissed by parents and mistakenly diagnosed by health care providers. This chapter focuses on, and is limited to, a discussion of the safety issues and distressing behavioral and physical manifestations associated with pediatric sleep disorders.
