An established fact by sleep scientists is that teenagers need eight to ten hours of sleep per night. Another established fact is that not many teens are getting this much sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, “One study found that only 15% reported sleeping 8 ½ hours on school nights.” The CDC reports that adolescents who don’t get the sleep they need often face detriments, such as obesity and symptoms of depression.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, middle and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 AM. Yet many schools start far too early. DHS starts at 7:35 and about 43% of America’s public high schools started before 8:00 AM in a 2011-2012 study.

Maybe you're asking yourself why teens aren't getting enough sleep. Well, it can be difficult for teenagers to fall asleep before 11:00 PM. This is not due to bad habits or technology, but to the release of Melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. In teens, this hormone is released about two hours later than it is in adults and the effects are clear. Online, teens can be found practically bragging about how little sleep they get and it is a common stereotype in movies to see teens who have difficulty waking up in the morning.

Not only do teens have to get up at times that can be early even for adults, but the changes in teens’ circadian rhythms mean that getting up at any time for a teen is the equivalent of getting up approximately two hours earlier for an adult. A common time for teens to get up is 6:00 AM. Assuming that getting up at any time for teens is like getting up two hours earlier for adults, imagine having to get up at 4:00 AM every single day. Suddenly, attributes commonly associated with teens such as irritability and stress make a lot more sense.

So, what can you do?

If you’re a parent, understand that staying up late is biologically natural for teens .

If you’re a student, try to use techniques such as dimming lights at night and using fewer screens to help regulate your sleep time.

If you're a teacher, be more understanding of students who get tired in class and advocate for later start times to those who make change.

One of the largest parts of this problem is a lack of understanding, so educate yourself. Take a look at the data that has been collected by scientists and share that information with those who may be skeptical.

Finn B. Radner, Class of 2023, is a staff writer for the Dedham Mirror. He is a member of the school's Math Team, Speech and Debate Team, and a writer and editor for ECHO Magazine. Finn often spends time playing Minecraft at home and is an avid writer.