In this episode we have the pleasure to talking with Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, MD from Texas Children’s Hospital about strategies to help sleepless teens.

Dr. Spikes-Franklin is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Dr. Spinks-Franklin's research interests are in the areas of the cultural aspect of child development. Her previous research experience included studying the development of children in Senegal, West Africa, and studying the mental health impact of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on school-aged African American children in Houston. Other research experiences including exploring the racial identity development of school-aged African American and Latino children in the Houston area who are participating in a reading intervention program. She has also studied healthcare disparities among children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is currently studying the effect of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) among children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. 

This episode was recorded live from the 2019 AAP NCE in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• Common presentations that primary care providers will see in adolescents with sleep issues.
• The importance of the patient’s history in determining the causes of symptoms.
• The various factors, including the homeostatic and circadian drive, in regulating sleep.
• The difference between REM and non-REM sleep and the physiological processes of each.
• How sleep changes from childhood to adolescence.
• Considering both the genetic and environmental components of sleep disorders.
• How social media activity negatively impacts natural sleep rhythms.
• What parents can do to mitigate some of the environmental hindrances such as electronics.
• Maintaining a teen’s circadian rhythm by not allowing them to sleep in over weekends.
• Examples of breathing techniques to help calm down hyperactive or anxious kids.
• The benefits of gratitude journaling and general journaling before bed.
• Night sports and adrenaline: encouraging parents to prioritize their children’s needs.
• What families’ dinner- and bedtime routines reveal about a household.
• Thoughts on medicating sleep disorders and how melatonin should be approached.

Do you have thoughts about this episode or suggestions for a future topic? Write to us, [email protected]