Rest-Ed Study

Would you like to learn more about your child’s sleep?

(front: Patricia Jackson, Emma Telford; back: Taylor Gilchrist, Jessica Street, Lizzie Hill, Florian Gahleitner, Emma Carruthers)

Children with Down’s syndrome (Ds) experience a higher incidence of sleep problems than their typically-developing peers. Untreated sleep problems in children (with and without Ds) can lead to sleepiness, behavioural and emotional problems, cognitive impairment, reduced quality of life and reduced academic achievement.

A study by Dr Rebecca Stores at the University of Portsmouth a number of years ago demonstrated that group education of parents using a video and booklet can offer some benefit regarding behavioural sleep problems in children with Ds. A study is currently underway in Scotland, by researchers and sleep specialists from the Royal Hospital for Children & Young People Edinburgh, to evaluate the effectiveness of an updated version of the education package on the sleep and quality of life of young children with Ds and their parents/ carers. Should the revised package prove effective, it is hoped that it will be made available to families across the country, both with and without Ds.

Rest-Ed, funded by a grant from Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, are looking to recruit parents/ carers of young children (aged 6m-5yrs) with Ds living in Scotland to take part in the evaluation process.

If you would like to participated in this study, please email the REST-Ed team at loth.rested@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk, or speak to the lead investigator, Dr Florian Gahleitner on 0131 312 0453.