Learn About Sleep Expert Dr. Kathy Wilson
Zansors recently interviewed a special guest, Kathy Wilson, M.D., who is a pediatrician with the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center. Zansors sent Dr. Wilson a few questions to answer and we hope you get to know Kathy a little more outside of her professional duties.
Dr. Kathy Wilson
Zansors recently interviewed a special guest, Kathy Wilson, M.D., who is a pediatrician with the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center. Zansors sent Dr. Wilson a few questions to answer and we hope you get to know Kathy a little more outside of her professional duties.
The Q&A with Kathy is a warm-up before an online event we are hosting this Saturday, September 22nd at 2 p.m. On Wednesday September 19th, Zansors will announce how Dr. Wilson will help parents with their child's sleep quality.
Question: What got you interested in studying sleep, and why kids and sleep in particular?Dr. Wilson: I initially became interested in sleep medicine during my pediatrics residency. I had the opportunity to work with several families struggling with their children’s sleep and I saw firsthand how much of an impact it can have on not only the child but the entire family.
Question: Is there anyone in your family with sleep problems?Dr. Wilson: Nobody in my family has sleep problems.
Question: How's your sleep? Have you ever gone through a phase where you didn't sleep well? What did you do about it?Dr. Wilson: I am fortunate to be a good sleeper and I really make an effort to practice good sleep habits and go to bed at the same time each night. Sometimes when I have a lot on my mind, I may have a harder time falling asleep. On those nights, I will get up out of bed and read quietly until I am sleepy and then go back to bed.
Question: What's the most fascinating thing you know about sleep?Dr. Wilson: I am most fascinated by the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm), and how it uses cues from the environment to signal that it is time to go to sleep and time to wake up.
Question: If you could give parents one word of advice about sleep and their kids, what would it be?Dr. Wilson: Routine :-)
Join Dr. Wilson on Saturday, September 22nd at 2 p.m., for a live online Q&A. Dr. Wilson will give participants an overview of a good night’s sleep and field questions from participating parents.
Jill MacNeice Chief Experience Officer
Email: jill@zansors.com Twitter: @jmacneice
(Sleep Champ is a product of Zansors, based on University of Michigan technology. It is not a product of the University of Michigan Health System.)
Sleep Champ: Bringing Back Bedtime - Post from “Crazy House Reviews – From a Mom Who Knows”
As a mom, I know firsthand how difficult it can be on the family when your kid has a bad night. I also know how helpless you can feel when you sense your kid is having a hard time during the day, but you don’t know why.
Sleep ChampTM: Bringing Back Bedtime
By Jill MacNeice
Zansors Chief Experience Officer
As a mom, I know firsthand how difficult it can be on the family when your kid has a bad night. I also know how helpless you can feel when you sense your kid is having a hard time during the day, but you don’t know why.
Sleep quality directly affects how a child feels and behaves during the day. Sleep plays key roles in children’s development -- mood, behavior, school performance and social interactions, as well as growth, lung and heart function, and immune system. If your son or daughter is having sleep problems, it could affect them now—and for years to come. Also, serious ailments such as sleep apnea could be hiding behind poor sleep quality.
That’s why, I feel it’s important to check your child’s sleep quality in more than a casual way. I’ve been involved with the development of Sleep ChampTM ,a new mobile app. I’m really proud of the outcome and benefits it will have for parents. The app lets you set up profiles for all of your children. You fill out a short questionnaire about sleep habits, snoring, daytime sleepiness, and even things that you might not associate with sleep quality, like bed wetting and hyperactivity. You get a score that will help you determine how urgent it is to bring up sleep issues with your child’s pediatrician.
I made sure Sleep ChampTM is easy to use. But don’t be fooled by the simplicity. It is based on years of validated scientific research. The questions and sleep quality score are adapted from the Sleep Related Breathing Disorders (SRBD) scale, designed by Dr. Ronald Chervin [watch video]. Dr. Chervin is a nationally known sleep expert and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Michigan. This little app is like getting the best of evidence-based sleep medicine—at home.
Sleep Champ Screenshot
One of the most useful features: you store all the profiles and scores right on your phone or tablet. You can make notes in the moment, bring it to the doctor, discuss it step-by-step. The app also provides information and top resources on sleep problems and symptoms. Skip the internet searches and go straight to the right information, and ask your doctor the right questions.
Sleep Champ is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for $3.99. It doesn’t take the place of a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, but it will help you hone in on your child’s symptoms so your doctor visit is focused on nailing the diagnosis and finding the solution.
An informed parent is a child’s best advocate, not just with the doctor, but also with teachers, guidance counselors, and life in general. Sleep ChampTMempowers you to be this advocate, with the simple idea that tuning in more closely to your kids’ sleep habits and behavior can be just as powerful as a medical examination.
If you suspect your child is having sleep-related problems – or problems that you’re not sure what to attribute to – try it out. We all know that the only thing more comforting than a peaceful night’s sleep is peace of mind – particularly when it comes to our children’s health.
Jill MacNeice Chief Experience Officer
Email: jill@zansors.comTwitter: @jmacneice
More information on the Sleep ChampTM app:Website Download for Apple Download for Android Twitter Facebook