General

This international Advanced Course has a main aim to provide professionals with a particular interest in the pediatric sleep field gathering theoretical and practical knowledge about sleep and its mechanisms as well as how to evaluate and to provide knowledge for diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational interventions in sleep in pediatric ages.

The theoretical component will focus on the physiological basis of sleep, assessment of sleep and sleep disorders, diagnostic procedures, sleep disorders in children and adolescents (insomnia, sleep–related breathing disorders, parasomnias, and sleep-related movement disorders). Also in the theoretical component, lectures will focus on physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and social factors relevant to sleep quality throughout development (birth till adulthood). Also, it will focus on prevention, diagnostic assessment, and therapeutic approaches for pediatric sleep disorders. Additionally, this course will cover specific areas related to sleep such as nutrition, physical activity, and academic performance.

The practical component will focus on technical aspects of sleep measurements and diagnostic procedures, and practical training in pediatric sleep medicine.

Specific

To provide knowledge and the necessary tools for effective intervention in the field of pediatric sleep sciences, the following are the specific aims:

a. To understand the physiological basis of sleep, concerning its neurophysiology and neurobiology, functions, sleep and dreams, growing and sleep, gender and sleep, circadian biology/chronobiology, and effects of pharmaceuticals.
b. To understand the changes in sleep structure and organization throughout the lifespan and its relationship with the physical and psychological changes through development.
c. To acquire knowledge to assess sleep disorders and about diagnostic procedures, including classification of sleep disorders, clinical interview, and examination, monitorization of sleep and wakefulness, and biomarkers of disturbed sleep.
d. To acquire knowledge of sleep disorders in pediatric ages, in concrete acute and chronic insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, sleep-related movement disorders, and parasomnias, concerning aspects of the definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical picture, diagnosis, and treatment.
e. To understand the bilateral relationship between sleep and other medical areas such as Pulmonology, Neurology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, and Dental Medicine.
f. To understand social, economic, organizational, and research aspects of sleep medicine.
g. Ethical considerations about working in the pediatric sleep science field.
h. To acquire the different methods and multidisciplinary approaches in sleep research.