Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC)

Validated tool designed to assess various sleep disturbances in children aged 6 to 16 years.

• Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep

• Sleep breathing disorders

• Disorders of arousal (e.g., nightmares)

• Sleep-wake transition disorders

• Disorders of excessive somnolence

• Sleep hyperhidrosis (nighttime sweating)

Who Completes It: The questionnaire is typically filled out by a parent or caregiver on behalf of the child.

Time Required: It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Response Format: Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where:

• 1 = Never

• 2 = Up to once or twice per month

• 3 = Once or twice per week

• 4 = 3-5 times per week

• 5 = Always (daily)

Scoring: Higher scores indicate more severe sleep disturbances. The total score is calculated by summing the individual item scores, with a potential range from 26 to 130. A cutoff score of 39 is suggested to indicate significant sleep disturbances.