Pediatric sleep medicine at Dell Children's
When your child does not get enough sleep, the lack of sleep can lead to physical and emotional health concerns. Experienced pediatric sleep medicine specialists at Dell Children’s Sleep Lab at Ascension Seton in Austin, Texas, diagnose and treat even the most complex sleep disorders. Our goal is to help find the cause of your child’s sleep condition and work with you to create a care plan to help improve your child’s sleep. Our sleep lab is the only one in Central Texas that has a pediatric sleep psychologist. Your pediatric sleep psychologist helps your child find natural solutions to sleeping difficulties. They also help develop behavioral strategies and therapeutic care plans to promote better sleep patterns.
If your child is showing signs of anxiety, sleep walking, bed-wetting, night terrors, or trouble staying awake, talk with a pediatric sleep specialist. Your child’s doctor starts by listening to you, to better understand your concerns. And your child’s doctor may recommend a pediatric sleep study to help diagnose your child’s sleep condition.
Specialized care for pediatric sleep disorders
- Bed-wetting
- Circadian rhythm disorder
- Difficulty falling asleep (insomnia)
- Difficulty staying awake (narcolepsy)
- Jerky legs while sleeping (periodic limb movement disorder)
- Night terrors
- Restless leg syndrome during the day
- Sleep apnea
- Sleepwalking and night terrors (parasomnia)
Specialized sleep studies for kids
Sometimes, sleep studies are recommended to help diagnose your child’s sleep condition. A referral is needed for a sleep study. Your child’s pediatrician, sleep medicine specialist or other specialist may refer your child to our sleep lab for a sleep study. Ask your child’s doctor about a sleep study. To have your child referred to our pediatric sleep lab for a sleep study, please have their doctor call 512-324-7378.
Pediatric sleep testing is different from sleep testing for adults. Your child will have a private suite designed just for kids. And up to two adult family members can also stay overnight during the study. Our care team is experienced in working with young children and teens, helping your child feel comfortable as they receive care. Pediatric sleep studies are non-invasive. Your child will wear a mask attached to a ventilation machine. Sensors are used to monitor your child’s brain, heart and lung function. During the study, your child’s sleep doctor may want to include:
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration study to help determine the right CPAP device setting for your child. During the overnight study, the CPAP device uses a mask and a machine to deliver the air pressure your child needs to help improve their quality of sleep.
- Bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) study to help assess your child’s breathing by using two different air pressures.
- Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), also called a nap study, to measure your child’s level of daytime sleepiness. This test helps diagnose narcolepsy.
Multispecialty care team
Our multispecialty care team includes a pediatric sleep medicine specialist, pediatric sleep psychologist, nurse, child life specialist, sleep technician, respiratory therapist, nurse coordinator, social worker and more.
Some sleep disorders may be related to other physical or emotional health conditions. If your child needs more care, we connect you to the specialty care that supports your child’s needs.
Sleep psychologist
Sometimes, having trouble sleeping may be due to an emotional health concern. Our pediatric sleep psychologist at Dell Children’s focuses on caring for your child’s mental and emotional health. Our licensed sleep psychologist is onsite at Dell Children’s Sleep Lab to collaborate and work with your child’s care team. They help create a personalized care plan to improve your child’s sleep. A care plan from a sleep psychologist typically includes natural methods to help your child sleep, such as behavioral changes. And, we can help children adjust to sleeping with a CPAP or BiPAP machine.
Sleep specialists
Brian Kang, MD, Pediatric Pulmonology Medicine, Sleep Medicine
Lisa Barber, MD, Pediatric Pulmonology Medicine