Sleep Studies

The Sleep Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital diagnoses and treats children with a wide range of sleep problems and disorders.

Update: We are now offering telemedicine appointments with the Sleep Center, for the health and safety of our patients while coronavirus (COVID-19) is present in Florida. For appointment scheduling, please call 727-767-4458.

The Johns Hopkins All Children’s Sleep Center evaluates and treats premature infants to young adults with any type of sleep disorder, including problems falling asleep or staying asleep, snoring, sleepwalking and abnormal movement during sleep. Our team consists of sleep medicine physicians, nurse practitioners and registered sleep technologists. We also work closely with pulmonology, neurology, genetics, psychology, plastic surgery, cardiology and occupational therapy to provide each patient with the personalized care he or she needs. We also understand that the family is an important part of the patient’s care team, that’s why we provide every family with the educational support and resources they need to care for their child at home.

Our Sleep Center is the only full-service pediatric hospital in west-central Florida accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The accreditation recognizes high standards in core areas including personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care and quality assurance.

Our center includes a Sleep Clinic and Sleep Laboratory. In the Sleep Clinic, our team works together to assess each patient’s sleep issue to determine if he or she should come in for a sleep study. Patients suspected of having a sleep disorder are often referred to our Sleep Laboratory for an in-depth overnight sleep study. Once we have information from the sleep study, patients are seen in the Sleep Clinic to discuss a personalized treatment plan.

In addition to our comprehensive care, we have access to pediatric specialists and subspecialists throughout our hospital and can provide a seamless transition for patients who need additional specialty care beyond our services.

Treating Premature Infants

Our Sleep Laboratory provides specialized care for premature infants, including bedside sleep studies in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Our team uses a portable sleep unit to care for babies in the NICU and closely monitors infants for any breathing problems before they are discharged.

Understanding Healthy Sleep

If your child is dealing with a sleep issue, it’s important to recognize what’s causing the problem. It’s also important for families to understand proper sleep and healthy bedtime routines.

Questions to Help Recognize Sleep Problems

• Does your child sleep fewer than nine hours per night?
• Does your child snore?
• Is your child restless before or during sleep?
• Is your child hyperactive or sleepy during the day?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” your child may have a sleep disorder. Talk to your doctor or contact us for an evaluation with a sleep specialist.

Tips for Healthy Sleep

• Bedtime and wake-up time should be consistent and age-appropriate.
• The average 10-year-old needs 10 hours of sleep, and younger kids need more.
• Teenagers need eight to nine hours of sleep each night.
• No electronic media (smart phones, tablets, computers and TV) for one to two hours before bedtime.
• Lights should be dim (try candlelit dinners, showers with night-lights) from about 6 p.m. until bedtime, and then use bright lights in the morning.
• No caffeine or nicotine exposure.

Recognition