Parasomnias of Childhood and Adolescence

This overview of the parasomnias illustrates how much physical and psychologic activity can occur in relation to sleep, including while asleep, and how common such disturbances are at all ages. Because the consequences of some parasomnias can be serious in a number of ways, it is important for a child's development (and the welfare of the family as a whole) that parasomnias be diagnosed correctly and treated effectively at an early stage. Improvements in knowledge and understanding of these and other sleep disorders by the public and professionals alike are needed before this counsel of perfection is likely to be achieved.