Sleep Problems

Sleep problems can have a major negative impact on the quality of life of children and adults with Dravet Syndrome, as well as their families.

Lack of sleep can exacerbate behaviour problems, affect a child’s ability to learn and provoke seizures. For parents and carers, lack of sleep and sleep disturbance can also have a huge impact on their ability to manage everyday life.

Sleep difficulties affect between 75% and 97% of people with Dravet Syndrome. This is far greater than families with young children in the general population and with other epilepsies – only 30% of these report sleep problems. Daytime sleepiness may also affect children and adults with Dravet Syndrome.

Managing problems with sleep

Managing sleep disorders, as well as night-time (nocturnal) seizures, is likely to improve quality of life for the whole family.

In the video below, Dr Andreas Brunklaus, Paediatric Neurologist, talks about the impact that sleep issues can have and the role of melatonin as a possible treatment.

Professor Paul Gringras is Chair of Sleep Medicine at King's College London and founder of the Department of Children's Sleep Medicine at Evelina, London. In the video below, he gives an overview of the latest thinking and approaches to managing sleep difficulties in people with Dravet Syndrome.