[blparent] FW: [blind-family] Blind Child/Young Adolescent Study

[David Andrews]

Well, if I said it isn't, it's to late as you already posted it.

Researchers seem convinced that all blind people have sleep problems!

Dave

At 09:47 PM 10/12/2009, you wrote:
>David, please let me know if this is appropriate for the lists.
>
>
>Original Message:
>From: "Sleep and Mood Disorders Lab" <sleeplab at ohsu.edu>
>To: blind-family at yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [blind-family] Blind Child/Young Adolescent Study
>Date:
>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:07 -0000
>
>Hello,
>
>My name is Amber Laurie, and I am a Research Assistant in the Sleep and
>Mood Disorders Laboratory of Oregon Health and Science University in
>Portland, Oregon. I am writing you to ask for your help in reaching family
>members and educators of blind children and young adults who may be
>interested in participating in a study currently taking place under the
>direction of Dr. Alfred Lewy. We are looking for blind children (ages 5-8)
>and blind young adults (ages 17-20) who have little or no light perception.
>The purpose of this study is to identify abnormal body rhythms and sleeping
>patterns of blind children and young adults and to determine if these
>rhythms affect sleep quality and social/academic functioning.
>
>The body clocks of sighted people are reset every day by the daily rising
>and setting of the sun, a process that is not possible for the blind, as
>they cannot receive light through their eyes. This causes many completely
>blind children and adults to suffer from sleep problems.  Blind children
>and teenagers tend to have body rhythms which free-run, meaning that their
>natural body rhythms drift later each day, causing sleep and activity
>problems.  This is similar to the jet lag that people sometimes experience
>when they travel. (For more information on this phenomenon, type "circadian
>rhythms in the blind" into your internet browser.)  We think that
>understanding and treating this problem is important for the social and
>academic functioning of blind children in the US, with the results of our
>study potentially extending worldwide and benefiting sighted children and
>young adults as well.
>
>We will measure body rhythms by using sleep diaries and wristwatch-style
>activity monitors, and by sometimes measuring melatonin levels in saliva.
>Sleep quality and daytime functioning will be determined by questionnaires
>completed by participants, teachers, and parents.  The studies may also
>involve daytime saliva collection sessions, collected at the participants'
>home.  All costs of participation will be covered by the investigators.
>
>There are a number of ways you could help us get the word out about this
>study.  First, you could distribute the included flyers to families with
>blind children and young adults.  It would also be helpful for us to know
>about publications that are of interest to families with blind children, so
>that we may distribute advertisements to those publications.
>
>If you know of any potential candidates who may qualify and/or who are
>interested in learning more about the study, or if you know of any
>publications that are distributed to families with blind children and young
>adults, please have the candidate and/or their parent(s) contact me at
>sleeplab at ohsu.edu or 503-494-1402.
>
>Thank you very much for your help, and I hope to hear from you soon.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Amber Laurie
>
>
>
>
>
>
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