Re: Sleep feedback/lights

[Guest guest]

You are right. It does seem obvious that a light would affect sleep. And then there is the fact that is afraid of the dark! So the hall light is on with the door shut so she can see the crack of light...and her night light is kind of hidden so it is just the glow...I am wondering if WHEN the light is shining affects the sleep?

G

----Original Message Follows---- From: grandmagrandaduk@... Reply-To: CHARGE To: CHARGE Subject: Re: More Sleep feedback Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 20:10:01 -0000

How interesting - it does seem fairly obvious re. keeping the lights off, as I guess most parents, like 's, leave the hall light on all night in case she wakes up. on average will wake 2 nights per week at say 2am or 5am and will be awake until probably 7.30pm the following night. She is profoundly deaf and has bilateral fundus colobomas - does anyone know what a fundus coloboma is and how it affects the eyesight? She also sleeps very often with one eye open(her lazy eye) it never occured to us that light in that eye would affect her. It must be worth a try to keep the house in darkness at night - we've tried everything else short of medication.

Sue Grandma to (5)

> > Doctor 2: > > I have not heard about sleep problems. Very thought > > provoking > > a) Could this be a problem of the sleep CYCLE? Maybe > > melatonin related. Do deaf-blind children, in general, have > > more sleep problems since they cannot adjust to visual > > clues. > > Hi: YES to question a) ...very common in the population of children > with blindness and visual impairment. (especially it seems for children > who have had long hospital stays, though I have no documentation.) Any > one of the Dr.'s out there want to study that one? My theory is that > flourescent lights in many hospital stays throws the whole sleep system > off. Blue spectrum fourescent light especially not recommended for > visual impairment. For Mom establish early on a routine of getting > up in morning, opening curtains, strolling child out for a short mornig > "bright light" walk out in light to stimulate the natural release of > melatonin. (affected by light on the retina) Similarily, when it is > evening outside, turn off those darn flourescent lights in the > hospial!!!! Also, when doing feedings, etc, in the evenings, how many > of you turn ON the lights? The child may be sleeping, but light can > still have an effect on the retina when eyes are closed, especially > with lid palsy. When the child is up in the night, make sure lights > remain off. Use a central fuse if you have to as alot of kids will try > and turn lights on and play. Melatonin has had great results also in > some of the cases I am aware of. In Canada, it is no longer "over the > counter" and must be prescribed. > > > Ann Gloyn, Deafblind Specialist, Residential school (prior to teaching I worked as Intervenor on shifts...some wild night stories from the crew!!!)

[Guest guest]

,

likes a night light and I always keep those 25 watt colored, either red, blue or green lights in his room on a lamp next to his bed. It gives a neat mood set in the room and he sleeps great with it.

Foley

Re: More Sleep feedback Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 20:10:01 -0000

How interesting - it does seem fairly obvious re. keeping the lights off, as I guess most parents, like 's, leave the hall light on all night in case she wakes up. on average will wake 2 nights per week at say 2am or 5am and will be awake until probably 7.30pm the following night. She is profoundly deaf and has bilateral fundus colobomas - does anyone know what a fundus coloboma is and how it affects the eyesight? She also sleeps very often with one eye open(her lazy eye) it never occured to us that light in that eye would affect her. It must be worth a try to keep the house in darkness at night - we've tried everything else short of medication.

Sue Grandma to (5)

> > Doctor 2: > > I have not heard about sleep problems. Very thought > > provoking > > a) Could this be a problem of the sleep CYCLE? Maybe > > melatonin related. Do deaf-blind children, in general, have > > more sleep problems since they cannot adjust to visual > > clues. > > Hi: YES to question a) ...very common in the population of children > with blindness and visual impairment. (especially it seems for children > who have had long hospital stays, though I have no documentation.) Any > one of the Dr.'s out there want to study that one? My theory is that > flourescent lights in many hospital stays throws the whole sleep system > off. Blue spectrum fourescent light especially not recommended for > visual impairment. For Mom establish early on a routine of getting > up in morning, opening curtains, strolling child out for a short mornig > "bright light" walk out in light to stimulate the natural release of > melatonin. (affected by light on the retina) Similarily, when it is > evening outside, turn off those darn flourescent lights in the > hospial!!!! Also, when doing feedings, etc, in the evenings, how many > of you turn ON the lights? The child may be sleeping, but light can > still have an effect on the retina when eyes are closed, especially > with lid palsy. When the child is up in the night, make sure lights > remain off. Use a central fuse if you have to as alot of kids will try > and turn lights on and play. Melatonin has had great results also in > some of the cases I am aware of. In Canada, it is no longer "over the > counter" and must be prescribed. > > > Ann Gloyn, Deafblind Specialist, Residential school (prior to teaching I worked as Intervenor on shifts...some wild night stories from the crew!!!)

[Guest guest]

Ya'll prolly don't want to hear that aari from about 18 months on

has gone to bed between 8 and 9 and sleeps till the sun comes

up.. 10 - 12 hrs a night is usual for him..

On night lights tho.. I've found the Indiglo ones work great.. enough

lisght to see by but aren't really enough to wake..

Casey, mom to Dawn 22 HH, Ken 11 ADHD, and 8 CHARGE

AIM ZeeCasey, ICQ# 728514

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/1220