What To Do With The Sleep Champ Score Report

So you've been using the Sleep ChampTM app for a few months now and generated score reports for your child. What's next? Important people will need to know your child's sleep quality risk. Sleep ChampTM creates a score report that can be shared from within the app. When you answer the 22 questions, you can review answers to each question within the app. Emailing the score report is a convenient way to share results with loved ones such as family members. The report could also be shared with a pediatrician or nurse before an appointment.

The score report is a PDF file so it can be printed easily. You will have three pages: 1) cover page, 2) explanation of score and risk, and 3) questions with answers. Take this with you to your child's doctor's visit so you can start the conversation on different sleep topics. More helpful resources can be found in the app in the 'About Sleep' tab.

The score reports can be found by pressing the 'Profile' tab at the bottom of the screen. Choose your child and then choose which report you want to email. You can email the report to yourself and print from your computer.

For more information about the Sleep ChampTM app, watch our tutorial video produced by our videographer, Jesse Meria.

Ranjit Das, M.D. Zansors Chief Medical Innovation Officer

Email: ranjit@zansors.com Twitter: @MADEinDNA

More information on the Sleep ChampTM app: Website Download for Apple Download for Android Twitter Facebook

Catching Early Changes in a Child's Sleep Pattern

Hi, I’m Abhijit Dasgupta, Ph.D., the Chief Data Scientist at Zansors. On top of my professional hats, I’m also a dad to two small kids. As a parent I can see very quickly the effects of disturbed sleep on my kids – the crankiness, excitability and lower concentration. Occasional disturbed sleep patterns happen, whether because of a late night, a late sugar binge, a movie or TV show that affected them more than we thought, a fight with friends. As a data scientist I know that occasional events do not make a pattern, but if a pattern of bad sleep starts I want to catch it early. That’s why I was so excited when we started developing Sleep ChampTM.Why am I, as a parent, so concerned about my kids' sleep? Of course, I see the immediate short term behavioral effects, which are certainly irritating and disruptive. Modern sleep research has thrown up more serious long term effects of a poor sleep pattern, specially in kids and adolescents. Lack of sleep or poor sleep patterns have been associated with poor cognitive development, lower IQ, increased risk of obesity later in life, development of ADHD, higher risk of Type II diabetes, lower memory capacity, depression and anxiety. Poor sleep can directly lead to poorer grades, which sets kids up to be not as successful as their potential. As a parent my job is to prepare my kids to become successful adults, and give them the best possible chance to succeed. Given the potential downsides, having my kids develop good sleep habits, and intervening if I see patterns of poor sleep, seems to me a no-brainer.

The Sleep ChampTM app we developed at Zansors is an easy way to quantifiably monitor my kids' sleep. It’s based on state-of-the art sleep research at the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center by a renowned specialist, Dr. Ronald Chervin, in childhood sleep. It looks for problems that the most recent American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines suggest are symptomatic of poor sleep patterns and sleep apnea. Regularly using the Sleep ChampTM app and monitoring my kids' sleep score allows me to detect changes in my kids' sleep and start a conversation with our pediatrician earlier rather than later. To me, an occasional blip in the radar is just that, but a change in pattern means a time for change.

At Zansors, we are very excited about our products and their quality, and our ability to translate validated cutting edge research to useful consumer applications. As a parent, having something like the Sleep ChampTM on my smartphone or tablet allows me to take care of my kids better, and gives me a better chance of raising happier, healthier kids. I hope you can have the same positive experience that I’ve had with the Sleep ChampTM and other products we are testing right now and will release in the near future.

Good luck, and sweet dreams.

Abhijit Dasgupta, Ph.D. Zansors Chief Data Scientist

Email: abhijit@zansors.com Twitter: webbedfeet

More information on the Sleep ChampTM app:Website Download for Apple Download for Android  Twitter  Facebook

Video: Overview of a Good Night’s Sleep for Children by Kathy Wilson, M.D.

Zansors, Doctor Patient Medical Association and Sleep ChampTM are very fortunate to have Kathy Wilson, M.D. as a guest for our first Fireside Forum online discussion that will take place Saturday, September 22nd 2012 at 2pm. Dr. Wilson is a Research Fellow and Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Neurology, the Department of Pediatrics and the Sleep Disorder Center at the University of Michigan. Dr. Wilson’s research focuses on challenges to healthy sleep among preschool and elementary school children in low-income neighborhoods. We interviewed Dr. Wilson earlier this week so we know how passionate she is about sleep medicine.

Our goal is to give parents the opportunity to ask questions live and online with Dr. Wilson during Saturday’s forum. To get parents thinking about sleep for children and what questions to ask, we created this video. It’s very informative and helpful to give your child the best night’s sleep possible. Video highlights:

1) Benefits of sleep 2) Recommended hours of sleep for children 3) Signs children may not be getting a good night sleep 4) Other health risks of not getting enough sleep 5) Tips to get a better night sleep

Enjoy the video and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday. For more information about the Fireside Forum, visit our information page at http://www.zansors.com/fireside-forum-information and sign up at http://fireside-forum.zansors.com

R.S.V.P. on Facebook

We’d also like to thank our video producer Jesse Meria for his videography talents. Jesse produces videos for the University of Michigan and Cunning Expressions Photography and Videography. He is one of our esteemed parents and has shared his adventures in parenting with Sleep Champ.

Ranjit Das, M.D. Zansors Chief Medical Innovation Officer

Email: ranjit@zansors.com Twitter: @MADEinDNA

(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.)

Learn About Sleep Expert Dr. Kathy Wilson

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.)

A New Sense of Urgency: Next Steps After the American Academy of Pediatrics Revised Guidelines for Sleep Apnea and Snoring for Children

American Academy of Pediatrics

On Monday, August 27th 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for physicians regarding uncomplicated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep in relation to enlarged tonsils or obesity. These new guidelines come ten years after initial guidelines were implemented in 2002 where further research on childhood sleep apnea was produced. Between 1999 and 2010, 3166 new articles were written with 350 providing relevant data. The report states that if left untreated, delayed diagnosis of childhood sleep apnea can lead to complications affecting behavior, learning, cardiovascular system, growth and development.Recommendations remain similar: at routine health visits for all children, physicians should inquire if a child or teen snores regularly. Standard of care remains focused on sleep studies, adenotonsillectomy, CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure – a nighttime breathing apparatus) and weight reduction.

A search query for AAP sleep guidelines shows an abundance of coverage for the recent news. However, what happens next will strengthen these guidelines. Zansors believes three areas of focus need to occur:

1. Awareness – Sleep medicine for children needs more attention. Your child’s sleep is related to many aspects of their lives and guides their daytime activities. Sleep affects their health and wellness, therefore, we should learn more about a child’s sleep beyond the amount of sleep, but also the quality of sleep he/she gets each night.
2. Physician action – Physicians are clear on their screening practices. The total spectrum of sleep quality should be evaluated beyond snoring and sleep-related breathing disorders.
3. Parent empowerment – The most likely opportunity to report to a pediatrician if a child snores is by the parents who need easy-to-understand, self-help tools and guiding information to participate in this  process to initiate proper identification and management of childhood sleep apnea.

Is Your Little Sleeper a Sleep Champ?

We at Zansors are passionate about improving sleep quality for children and teens. The Sleep ChampTM app addresses concerns addressed by the AAP. Sleep ChampTM guides parents through a series of questions relating to snoring, breathing difficulties, behavior, growth and development. After answering questions, a score report is generated which can be printed or emailed. Sleep ChampTM also includes web resources to help parents understand various medical terms addressed in the questions. These questions were developed through 15 years of clinical research by Dr. Ronald Chervin of the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We find this can be a powerful tool for parents who wish to initiate the evaluation of sleep apnea for their child.  If you are still not convinced about Sleep ChampTM, then check out our other blogs by our own staff who are parents or even my “Top 10” list.

In the coming days, we will announce our strategy for social engagement and public service for those who wish to join a community of empowered parents who wish to utilize the AAP’s guidelines. Physicians need the collaborative efforts of parents in identifying children who snore.

Child snoring is not funny, child snoring is serious.

Ranjit Das, M.D. Zansors Chief Medical Innovation Officer

Email: ranjit@zansors.com Twitter: @MADEinDNA

More information on the Sleep ChampTM app:Website Download for Apple Download for Android  Twitter  Facebook

Top Ten Reasons to Download the Sleep Champ App

Top Ten Reasons to Download Sleep ChampTM App

By Ranjit Das, M.D.

Zansors Chief Medical Innovation Officer

We at Zansors have been busy with Sleep ChampTM. It’s been a very exciting launch! We’ve learned a lot about ourselves and the world of sleep medicine. My name is Dr. Ranjit Das and I am the Chief Medical Innovation Officer at Zansors. My role is to bring new ideas through medicine to our technology and products. It’s been my passion to help individuals with their health and wellness using technology in new and exciting ways.

By bringing relevant news to our Facebook and Twitter pages, we realize there can be “information overload”. Here is our top ten list to recap our launch month and why we think you should check out the Sleep ChampTM app to empower your little sleeper.

To read more and see multimedia, click the topics below. Without further delay...the top ten list:

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics changed their clinical guidelines.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently established that if a child snores regularly, they should be evaluated for sleep apnea. We didn’t put snoring as the first few questions for no reason. Answer simple questions to find out if your child’s doctor should evaluate for sleep apnea.

2. It's back to school time.
our child probably started school this week and is adjusting to a new sleep schedule. The number of hours a child sleeps is important, but we think quality is just as important. The Sleep ChampTM app addresses sleep quality for you.

3. Help you take action.
You’ve read the information we share on the Sleep ChampTM Facebook and Twitter pages, now take an active role beyond reading articles. By using an app, you are empowering yourself and your child’s health and wellness.

4. Sleep ChampTM app is powered by University of Michigan technology and research. 
For you, this means Sleep ChampTM has been investigated by clinical research conducted by Dr. Ronald Chervin who is the director of the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center. Dr. Chervin is our Sleep ChampTM ambassador. Watch him talk about his role and passion for sleep medicine.

5. Build awareness so you can talk to the pediatrician.
Did you know mouth breathing and behavior are tied to sleep related breathing disorders? The Sleep ChampTM app is a tool to increase awareness based on topics that doctors find important regarding sleep medicine.

6. We launched our tutorial video this week.
Learn how to use the Sleep ChampTM app with our video. Even our video producer, who is a parent, had some things to say about how he gets his kids to bed and his "three alarms". Here is a link to his blog post: September 4th, 2012 My Experience Producing the Sleep Champ Tutorial Video 

7. When your child sleeps well, you sleep well.
Parents always take care of their child’s health, but are you making sure you are sleeping well too? Parents can learn too while teaching good habits to their children when using the Sleep ChampTM app. 

8. Dancing babies and sleeping babies. 
When your child sleeps well, they know how to have a good time! These babies agree: Dancing Babies & Restful Waking Baby 

9. Sleep ChampTM app will give you simple and easy to understand results.
The app tells you how to use this score and what low risk sleep quality means based on the questions in the questionnaire. We even help you email the score report to loved ones. For each question in the questionnaire, we provide helpful resources to understand what each health topic means for your child. This can help you talk to your child about sleep topics and symptoms.

10. Caring parents want the best for their child.
You’ve taken the first step by visiting our site. Learn more and contact us if you have any questions about the Sleep ChampTM app. We are here for you. After you’ve read this list you’ll find our links, say hello via Twitter or Facebook!

Thank you and sleep well!

Ranjit Das, M.D. Chief Medical Innovation Officer

ranjit@zansors.com Twitter: @MADEinDNA

More information on the Sleep ChampTM app: Website Download for Apple Download for Android Twitter Facebook

Sleep Champ: Bringing Back Bedtime - Post from “Crazy House Reviews – From a Mom Who Knows”

Originally posted on "Crazy House Reviews - From a Mom Who Knows": Sleep Champ: Bringing Back Bedtime

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