The treatment of sleep disorders in people with learning disabilities using light therapy

Abstract

Light therapy is a recognized treatment for sleep phase disorders in the general population. Exposure to natural light can be a powerful means of correcting people's sleep/wake pattern. Although sleep problems in the learning-disabled population are common, research is limited. Light therapy has not to our knowledge been studied in this population. We report the case of a man with profound learning disabilities and poor visual acuity who was successfully treated with natural light for chronic sleep disturbance. Light therapy is safe, cheap and relatively easy to carry out. It may prove helpful in subjects with learning disabilities who have sleep problems, even if they do not fulfill the criteria for a particular sleep disorder.

Key Words:

• learning disability
• sleep disorders
• light therapy
• mental handicap
• delayed sleep phase syndrome