Originally published September 27 2005
Children need adequate sleep to perform in school
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Although most children need about nine hours of sleep a night, many are getting less than that or have frequent interruptions during their sleep, which new research says could have a negative effect on their performance at school.
Disturbed sleep in school children negatively affects their school performance and various neurocognitive abilities, according to an article recently published in the Journal of School Health.
This review of 21 studies found that some causes of disturbed sleep are reversible and that affected students can achieve better academic performance after intervention.
"In many cases, when disordered breathing at night is the cause, intervention may not only improve sleep, but improve academic performance as well," lead author Howard Taras, MD explains.
Poor sleep should be considered as one potentially contributing factor when there is poor student performance.
"These children and their families should be asked about regularity and duration of sleep, bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, night-wakings, sleep-disordered breathing, and increased day-time sleepiness," the authors state.
Studies have yet to determine whether there are academic benefits of a later start to the school day.
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