The Link Between Sleep and Intellectual Disabilities
A large number of individuals who experience intellectual disabilities also experience sleep problems. There is a link, and one is always feeding the other. The only way to break the cycle of poor sleep for individuals with intellectual disabilities is to speak with a sleep professional. Poor sleep, sleep apnea, and fragmented sleep can lead to cognitive decline, memory retention issues, and much more. Keep reading to learn more about the link between sleep and intellectual disabilities and how a sleep apnea specialist can help.
Statistics Surrounding Intellectual Disabilities and Sleep
Did you know that 32% of individuals with intellectual disabilities experience multiple sleep problems? According to Cambridge University, Sleep disorders, including sleep-disordered breathing and insomnia, are more common in adults with intellectual disabilities when compared with the general population.
Here are more statistics:
- Adults with intellectual disabilities experience more fragmented sleep compared with the general population
- Those with more severe intellectual disabilities are at higher risk of sleep disturbance
- Although adults with intellectual disabilities are a heterogenous group, specific sleep disorders can cluster around genetic syndromes or disorders as well as comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders
- Sleep problems are common in people with intellectual disabilities, with the prevalence of sleep problems in children ranging from 24% to 86%
- The estimated prevalence of sleep disorders in adults with intellectual disabilities ranges from 8.5% to 34.1%, with 9.2% experiencing significant sleep problems
- 72% of 551 older adults with an intellectual disability had sleep difficulties
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common comorbidity in people with intellectual disabilities, with an estimated prevalence of up to 39% in adults with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities.
- Sleep disturbance can often be the first sign of a deterioration in the mental state of people with mental illness, and poor sleep is a core symptom of many affective and psychotic disorders
What Sleep Issues Do Intellectually Disabled People Experience?
People with intellectual disabilities can suffer from many different types of sleep issues. Depending on the specific diagnosis, symptoms, severity, and longevity of their condition, there may be one or several types of sleep issues at varying degrees. Some of the sleep issues that intellectually disabled adults experience include insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, fragmented sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a difficult condition that affects millions of people. There are different ways to experience insomnia. Some people with insomnia are able to fall asleep easily, but they have difficulty staying asleep or waking up very early. Other people with insomnia may be able to sleep well once they are asleep, but getting to a sleep state takes a very long time.
Insomnia can disrupt an individual’s daily life due to the excessive sleepiness that is experienced during the day, which can result in irritability, anxiety, and more. When paired with intellectual disabilities, it can worsen symptoms and make daily life for them and their carers much more difficult.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing, which is also known as obstructive sleep apnea, is also common among individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a syndrome of upper airway dysfunction during sleep that is characterized by snoring and/or increased respiratory effort secondary to greater upper airway resistance and pharyngeal collapsibility. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that involves a significant decrease or cessation of airflow in the presence of breathing effort.
Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing include mouth breathing, snoring, and gasping. During the day, individuals can experience dry mouth, headaches, daytime sleepiness, sore throat, and irritability.
Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to many health issues, including cardiovascular problems such as stroke or heart attack, obesity, and much more. OSA does not go away on its own; it requires treatment and lifestyle changes in order to overcome it.
Fragmented Sleep
Fragmented sleep, also known as interrupted sleep, is common among adults who have intellectual disabilities. Interrupted sleep involves frequent awakenings during the night, disrupting the sleep cycle. The effects of fragmented sleep include daytime sleepiness, cognitive decline, mood disturbances, and health risks.
Fragmented sleep can also lead to mental health disorders and, paired with intellectual disabilities, can be difficult for individuals and their carers to live with on a daily basis.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Each of these sleep conditions is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. Not getting proper sleep for even just one night can quickly lead to fatigue, irritability, mood disturbances, emotional disturbances, and much more.
When compounded night after night, it can begin to escalate and worsen the symptoms of an individual’s existing intellectual disability. If you or someone you love has an intellectual disability and you are noticing a change in their mood, fatigue during the day, or emotional changes, they may be having an issue getting a good night’s sleep. Even if it seems as if they are sleeping through the night, they might not be. Take note of any snoring, gasping, apneas, and frequent night awakenings to use the restroom.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
As mentioned earlier in this blog, sleep apnea is a difficult condition that includes loud snoring, gasping, and pauses in breathing as its hallmark symptoms. Loud snoring is not a human’s normal way of breathing; it indicates that there is an obstruction in the airway. Snoring might seem like an innocent bad habit, but it is actually indicative of a much larger health issue. If you or your loved one with intellectual disabilities is a snorer, it is important to seek sleep apnea treatment.
Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can cause many issues aside from just headaches, a dry mouth, and daytime fatigue. Breathing through the mouth is the body’s survival response to not being able to breathe through the nose. As such, blood pressure rises and the heart rate increases. Night after night, this will quickly lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues.
In addition, the nose acts as a filter to weed out toxins and allow for clean, healthy oxygen to enter the lungs and bloodstream. When breathing through the mouth, this filter is missing, and the body is provided with oxygen that isn’t as clean. This causes the body to not run at optimal efficiency, leading to an increased risk of a host of health issues.
Quality of Life
Sleep apnea can lead to a poor quality of life. When a person does not get a good night’s sleep for even just one night, they feel very tired the next day and unable to perform some normal daily tasks. They may reach for more coffee, sugary drinks, or unhealthy food to help make them feel better and get by for the day.
When experiencing this day after day, especially for someone who already as intellectual disabilities, it can cause a decrease in their quality of life. Anxiety and depression can set in, worsening the symptoms of their existing condition.
Physical Health
Sleep apnea can affect your physical health in many ways. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for the body to rest, rejuvenate, and repair itself. When not allowed that opportunity, there are many issues that can occur. Sleep apnea and other sleep issues can put you at an increased risk of physical health issues such as:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Other metabolic disorders
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeat
- GERD
- Kidney disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Cognitive decline
- Memory retention issues
- Dementia
Mood Disturbances
Sleep issues and mood disturbances are closely linked, especially for individuals who have intellectual disabilities.
Mood disorders are found in one-third to one-half of patients with chronic sleep problems. Likewise, most patients with mood disorders experience insomnia, but a minority obtain significantly increased amounts of sleep. Although mood disorders cause significant morbidity and mortality, they often go undiagnosed.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
If you or a loved one is experiencing sleep apnea and want to get help, there are many options available to you. Sleep apnea does not go away on its own; in fact, it can worsen over time and lead to larger health problems, as outlined in this blog.
One of the reasons people are hesitant to get treatment for sleep apnea is because they do not want to be chained to a CPAP machine for the rest of their lives. Understandably so, CPAP machines are uncomfortable, bulky, loud, difficult to maintain, and have been part of recent dangerous recalls. This can be especially alarming for people who have intellectual disabilities.
Luckily, there is a non-surgical way to treat sleep apnea without the use of a CPAP machine and have long-lasting results that do not require a lifetime of upkeep.
Here’s how it works:
- Complete a sleep assessment in order to receive a formal diagnosis of sleep apnea
- Based on your specific needs, your Vivos-trained dentist, such as Gorman Health and Wellness, will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, taking all relevant clinical records, to formulate a customized treatment plan. This treatment plan will likely include several integrative therapies that have been proven to ensure the best treatment outcomes.
- Your results from The Vivos Method will largely depend upon your commitment to follow the directions and protocols prescribed by your Vivos doctors and other providers. By remaining diligent in completing your treatment, you will most likely achieve your breathing and sleep goals.
Sleep Apnea Treatment with Gorman Health and Wellness
If you’re ready to overcome your sleep apnea issues without surgery or a CPAP machine, Gorman Health and Wellness is proud to be one of the few providers in the area who can prescribe the revolutionary Vivos Method.
Dr. Gorman is a part of the breathing wellness movement, which aims to increase awareness and improve treatment for sleep-related airway conditions like sleep apnea. He has partnered with organizations focused on collaborating with dentists to apply the sciences of Craniofacial Epigenetics (the study of cranial modifications caused by gene expression as opposed to genetic code alteration) and Pneumopedics® (the practical application of oral appliance therapy and non-surgical airway remodeling) in the management of sleep apnea.
Together, the application of these sciences allows for the underlying causes of airway obstruction to be treated in 98% of cases, resulting in a high success rate among sleep apnea patients. For every sleep apnea case at our practice, Dr. Gorman will gather patient data and determine the patient’s specific needs based on home sleep test results, dental impressions, CT scans, and images.
Our state-of-the-art technology, paired with Dr. Gorman’s experience with sleep disorders, allows him to find the most effective treatment plan for each individual’s particular case, yielding improved daytime and nighttime breathing for the patient.
“I have been helping people suffering from Sleep Apnea with a non-invasive, clinically approved treatment method. This method has allowed my patients to sleep with far fewer events per hour, allowing them to get rid of their CPAP and BiPAP machines. Imagine not having to use one of those machines, getting back a much greater quality of life along with the benefits of being able to breathe better.” – Dr. Gorman.
For more information on Dr. Gorman, improving your sleep apnea, and decreasing your chances for other sleep-related health issues, visit us at MGormanDental.com!
