Effects of Sleep Disorders on Academic Achievement and Cognitive Functioning in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of Polysomnographic Studies

An adequate amount of good sleep is important for optimal cognitive functioning and successful academic achievement. Children with sleep disorders often experience cognitive impairments, underscoring the need for thorough assessment and effective management. This meta-analysis examines the impact of sleep disorders on cognitive functioning outcomes in children and adolescents (3–18 years old). Across 50 studies, 3,001 children with sleep disorders or disorders associated with sleep troubles and 1,425 control participants, as confirmed by polysomnographic assessments, were included. Results indicated that children with sleep-related breathing disorders showed small to large deficits in cognitive areas such as general intelligence (p < .001), memory (all ps < .022), attention (all ps < .007), cognitive flexibility (p < .001), processing speed (all ps < .001), and language (all ps < .037). In contrast, children with insomnia showed no significant impairments compared with controls (all ps > .11), although data were limited. Those with central disorders of hypersomnolence had lower immediate and long-term memory (p = .023, p = .016) and sustained attention (p < .001). Children with neurological or neurodevelopmental-related sleep disorders showed deficits in verbal IQ (p = .038), memory (p < .001), inhibitory control (p = .016), cognitive flexibility (p < .001), processing speed (p = .016), and expressive language (p = .005). Further research is needed on these latter groups. Clinicians, school professionals, and parents need to understand how sleep disorders may detrimentally affect neuropsychological functioning to make recommendations for children with sleep disorders.