Table 3.
Observable signs, symptoms, and experienced impacts of daytime sleepiness, as reported by caregivers (n = 18).
| Observable Signs and Symptoms | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Sleepy/sleepinessa | 17 (94.4) |
| Tired/tirednessa | 16 (88.9) |
| Exhaustion/exhausted | 5 (27.8) |
| Anxious/stressed | 5 (27.8) |
| Irritable/frustrated | 5 (27.8) |
| Tantrums/outbursts | 5 (27.8) |
| Lethargy/lethargic | 4 (22.2) |
| Picking at skin/pulling hair | 3 (16.7) |
| Afternoon slump | 2 (11.1) |
| Fatigue | 2 (11.1) |
| Hitting a wall | 2 (11.1) |
| Poor behavior | 2 (11.1) |
| Stupor/in a fog | 2 (11.1) |
| Zoning/zoned out | 2 (11.1) |
| Yawning | 2 (11.1) |
| Aggressively food-driven | 1 (5.6) |
| Cries easily | 1 (5.6) |
| Low energy | 1 (5.6) |
| Seizure-like fit before falling asleep | 1 (5.6) |
| Sluggish | 1 (5.6) |
| Wiped out | 1 (5.6) |
| Impactsb | |
| Mental health | |
| Focus problems | 9 (50.0) |
| Comprehension problems | 5 (27.8) |
| Retention problems | 2 (11.1) |
| Emotional health | |
| Irritability | 5 (27.8) |
| Tantrums and outbursts | 5 (27.8) |
| Anxiety and stress | 3 (16.7) |
| Embarrassment | 1 (5.6) |
| Physical health | |
| Reduced physical activity | 6 (33.3) |
| Problems with nighttime sleep | 6 (33.3) |
| Association with illness | 1 (5.6) |
| Social health | |
| Family function | 7 (38.9) |
| Problems with peer relationships/engagements with others | 7 (38.9) |
| Missed educational opportunities | 5 (27.8) |
| Missed social opportunities | 4 (22.2) |
aMost caregivers (n = 13; 72.2%) used “sleepy” and “tired” interchangeably. bImpacts are not mutually exclusive (ie, a caregiver could have reported multiple impacts).