Narcolepsy is a condition that affects the brain’s regulation of sleep-wake cycles. While often associated with adults, narcolepsy can occur in children as young as two years old. Pediatric narcolepsy is more common than many people realize and can significantly affect a child’s daily life, mood, and ability to function.

Understanding Narcolepsy in Children

Children with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness, often described as a constant need to repay a “sleep debt” throughout the day. The condition can be mistaken for other health or behavioral concerns, such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, or bipolar disorder. For this reason, sleep disturbances should always be considered when evaluating these issues.

Narcolepsy is often linked to a deficiency of orexin (also called hypocretin), a hormone produced in the hypothalamus that helps maintain wakefulness. A lack of this hormone may be one of the causes of narcolepsy in some patients.

Diagnosis and Testing

The first step for parents who suspect their child may have narcolepsy is to schedule a consultation with a sleep specialist. At Valley’s Pediatric Sleep Disorders and Apnea Center, diagnosis may include:

  • Overnight sleep study to monitor brain waves, breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, and heart activity during various stages of sleep
  • Daytime nap study following the overnight study to assess daytime sleepiness and sleep onset

These tests help our specialists confirm a diagnosis and guide the most appropriate treatment approach.

Treatment Options

Treatment for pediatric narcolepsy often begins with medication. The oxybate family of medications, which are central nervous system depressants mixed with water and taken at night, are commonly used. Another option is hypnosis-based training, where a child learns to perform a physical action when feeling sleepy during inopportune times — a Pavlovian technique that helps the child return to wakefulness.

Comprehensive Pediatric Sleep Care at Valley

Valley’s Pediatric Sleep Disorders and Apnea Center, located at 579 Franklin Turnpike in Ridgewood, provides advanced diagnostic services and personalized treatment for a wide range of pediatric sleep conditions. Care is delivered by a team that includes sleep physicians, registered polysomnographic technicians, respiratory therapists, and pediatric home care nurses.