New Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students – Revised and the Sleep Disorders Inventory for Adultss

Abstract

This is a mini review of the newly launched Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students – Revised (SDIS-R) and the Sleep Disorders Inventory for Adults (SDI-A). The SDIS-R and SDI-A keep with the tradition of having all the strong psychometric strengths, computerized scoring, and report writing qualities of the original Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students, but there are many improvements in the SDIS-R and SDI-A. They make universal screening of children and adults easy and more accurate than ever before.

Keywords: Sleep screening; Pediatrics; Sleep disorders; Evaluation

Introduction

Universal screening needs

Many professionals are finally understanding that sleep disorders are one of the most frequent and harmful health problems in children, adolescents and adults. Recent research indicates that sleep disturbances occur in 12-35% of young children and up to 60% of school-age children [1-3]. Some of these sleep disturbances will disappear, but many will remain and become major sleep disorders that will not disappear without identification and treatment. Many unidentified and untreated pediatric sleep disorders cause cognitive, learning, behavioral/emotional, health and safety problems (based on hundreds of research studies). As a result, many of these youth are placed in special education4 or given incorrect mental health diagnoses [4] and ensuing medications that could be avoided by early universal screening and correction of these sleep disorders. Presently it appears that less than 10% of all children and youth with correctable sleep disorders are being identified and treated. The success and quality of life of the non-identified children and youth is being seriously impaired as they undergo many challenges like decades of cognitive and academic struggles, many behavior problems resulting in low self-esteem or anger, numbing by medications to help regulate emotional instability, vehicular accidents, relationship problems, and in some cases, even eventual disability or incarceration (based on hundreds of studies).

About 70% of adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) have not yet been screened, diagnosed or treated. OSA is a very harmful sleep disorder and causes significantly higher rates of major health problems like high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, obesity, Type II diabetes, cancer, accidents and early deaths (based on hundreds of studies).

Given the high rates of children, adolescents and adults with major sleep disorders that often cause significant educational, behavioral/emotional, health and safety problems, it is of utmost importance that professionals working with young people and adults who are experiencing these problems first screen them for major sleep disorders before proceeding to other educational or mental health diagnoses and treatments that may not be necessary or correct if the sleep disorder is identified and corrected.

A solution for universal sleep screening of children and adults

Many pediatric sleep specialists and other professionals are familiar with the Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students (SDIS) and have been using it for years with satisfaction. It has been one of the leading pediatric sleep inventories in the world for many reasons: (1) It has high validity and reliability coefficients in the 0.80’s and 0.90’s; (2) It is the only existing pediatric sleep inventory that screens for all the major sleep disorders; (3) It is the only one developed by many wellknown sleep specialists and normed and validated throughout the United States at seven leading pediatric sleep clinics and hospitals, as well as having a large community sample; (4) It is the only one to use a subject population that closely reflects the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census Demographics, which is important if it is to be used nationwide; (5) It is the only sleep screener that provides two inventories: one for children from 2 yrs. through 10.9 yrs. and one for students from 11 yrs. through 18.9 yrs., which ensures greater accuracy for both age groups; and (6) it is the only inventory worldwide that provides accurate computer scoring, a visual graph, and a comprehensive report of results that parents and professionals love.

While maintaining all the strengths of the original SDIS, a new, improved version, the SDIS-Revised, and also the new Sleep Disorders Inventory for Adults (SDI-A) was launched in April, 2019 on a new Digital Internet Platform at:

www.SleepInventory.com

The new SDIS-R and SDI-A screen for the following sleep disorders:

• Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders (a range from UARS to OSA)

• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)

• Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome in teens and adults or Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood (BIC) in children

• Narcolepsy

• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and

• A Total Sleep Disturbance Index (SDI) (a composite of all sleep scales).

These inventories continue to provide information and interventions for five parasomnias:

• Teeth-grinding (Bruxism)

• Sleep-walking

• Sleep-talking

• Sleep or Night Terrors

• Bed-Wetting (the SDI-A does not have bed-wetting).

Improved Features of the New SDIS-R and SDI-A

The SDIS-R-Children’s inventory still has the same 30 sleeprelated questions and the SDIS-R-Adolescent inventory still has the same 35 questions, as does the Adult version that have proven to be so accurate; however, there are now 24 medical history questions instead of 11, which helps professionals identify possible causes of SRBD if the person scores higher than normal on this scale (previously the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome scale) (Figure 1).

    

    

    Figure 1: SDIS-Revised-Children’s Inventory.