Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders – What, Why & How

Sleep is critical for child health and well-being. The reality in today’s society is that many children, especially children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), are not getting enough sleep to optimize their daytime functioning. Also, tired children can have a negative impact on the entire family. This presentation will provide an overview of sleep needs, sleep problems, the impact of not getting enough sleep, and what can be done to help children with NDDs sleep better. Dr. Corkum will share information about the development and upcoming randomized controlled trial of Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (BNBD-NDD); an eHealth intervention developed by a pan-Canadian team of pediatric sleep and NDD experts.

For more information on the Better Nights, Better Days study and if your organization would like to take part, click here.

For additional Better Nights, Better Days sleep resources and information, click here.

Dr. Penny Corkum

Dr. Penny Corkum is a Registered Psychologist with a background in School and Child Clinical Psychology. She is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University and cross-appointed in Psychiatry as well as being on Scientific Staff at IWK Health Centre. In addition to her academic appointments, she is a Psychologist and Director of the Colchester East Hants ADHD Clinic. She conducts clinical research in the areas of child mental health (particularly ADHD) and pediatric sleep. She is the co-principal investigator for the Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders team.

Dr. Shelly Weiss

Dr. Shelly Weiss is a Neurologist at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Dr. Weiss's clinical work focuses primarily on epilepsy and sleep neurology. She has been involved in the evaluation of children with sleep disorders for more than 20 years and currently directs the Neurology/Sleep Clinic at SickKids. Her research includes the management of childhood insomnia and the interaction between sleep and epilepsy in children. She is the co-principal investigator for the Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders team.

Funding Information:

BNBD-NDD development and evaluation is funded through Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN). KBHN is a national network of researchers and health professionals helping children with neurodisabilities and their families. They fund collaborative research, train the next generation of developmental neuroscientists, and mobilize the knowledge we generate.