A Night When Only Adults Can't Sleep? Rapid Increase in Children with Insomnia

0-9 Year-Old Patients: 178 in 2020 → 244 in 2021 → 146 in First Half of 2022
Smartphone Use and TV Watching Before Sleep Are Major Causes

[Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] Children at a growing age are suffering from insomnia. If they do not get proper sleep, their growth and development can slow down, and their immune system may weaken. If left untreated, it can lead to depression and learning and behavioral disorders.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of insomnia patients aged 0-9 surged by 58.1% last year compared to the previous year. In the first half of this year, it increased by 7.4%. This is about twice the average increase rate of 3.9% for all insomnia patients. Generally, insomnia occurs more frequently in the elderly, but unusually, the number of child patients has started to increase noticeably.

The number of insomnia patients aged 0-9 rapidly increased from 193 in 2019 and 178 in 2020 to 244 in 2021. In the first half of this year, 146 children received treatment for insomnia. Adolescents aged 10-19 also increased by 7.2% compared to last year.

The increase in childhood insomnia is attributed to improper sleep environments such as using smartphones or watching TV before bedtime. Nighttime smartphone use is known to inhibit the secretion of melatonin, a sleep hormone. Insomnia during growth periods can cause growth retardation, decreased concentration, and depression.

Children who experience insomnia are more likely to suffer from insomnia as adults. According to a study conducted by a research team at Pennsylvania State University on 502 children, 43% of children with insomnia symptoms continued to experience insomnia as adults, and 19% of them even worsened. In particular, children who sleep less than 7 hours a day are 2.5 times more likely to develop insomnia than those who sleep normally.

Additionally, developmental disorders such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) often accompany insomnia. According to research by Dr. Alex Dimitriou, a psychiatrist at the Menlo Park Sleep Center in the United States, 30-50% of children with ADHD experience sleep problems such as insomnia. Sleep disorders like insomnia worsen ADHD, and treating sleep problems affects the alleviation of ADHD symptoms and the quality of life of patients.

Experts emphasize the importance of maintaining "sleep hygiene." Sleep hygiene refers to lifestyle habits to follow for better sleep, including ▲ not reading, doing homework, or watching TV in bed ▲ engaging in quiet activities like reading outside the bedroom if unable to fall asleep within 15 minutes ▲ maintaining consistent bedtime and wake-up times regardless of weekends or weekdays ▲ limiting caffeine intake ▲ regular exercise ▲ avoiding stimulating activities such as computer games, TV watching, or phone calls about an hour before bedtime.

It is also important for the whole family to prepare for bedtime according to the child's sleep schedule and create a quiet environment to help the child sleep comfortably. If pediatric insomnia persists despite maintaining sleep hygiene, early diagnosis by a specialist is necessary. Since young children may not know how to express insomnia, if symptoms such as anxiety, decreased concentration, or tics appear for more than two weeks, consultation is recommended.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.