Tired Teens

Twenty percent of adolescents get the nine hours of sleep they need on a school night. At least one-fourth fall asleep in school, 22 percent nod off doing homework, and 14 percent arrive late or miss school because they oversleep.

Some parents don't realize their child has a sleeping problem.

Dr. Phyllis Zee, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, provides some solutions to the rising problem.

• There are delayed circadian rhythms and an increased need for sleep during adolescence.
• Short sleep duration in adolescents is associated with increase in weight and fat.
• ADD is associated with sleep disturbance and sleep deprivation. Sleepiness in children can manifest as ADD symptoms.

Better Sleep Tips:

• Children and Adolescents should get 9.25 hours of sleep per night
• Avoid bright light after 9:30 p.m.
• Stop television, games and computer activities about 2 hours before bedtime
• Avoid eating heavy meals 3 hours before bedtime
• Avoid exercise 3 hours before bedtime.