Home polysomnography norms for children.

Home polysomnography (PSG) by means of ambulatory monitoring systems has distinct advantages over sleep laboratory recordings, especially for children. However, normative data have been lacking. Norms for conventional PSG variables were compiled for 60 children age 5-16 years using the Oxford Medilog ambulatory monitoring system. Recordings were confined to a single night in view of previous demonstrations that the sleep on the first night is not significantly affected by the recording procedure. The results are presented in 5 age subgroups. Broad comparisons with published laboratory PSG norms for children of the same ages suggest that in home recordings sleep duration is longer, and slow wave sleep is much more pronounced with a commensurate reduction in stage 2 NREM sleep. That is, sleep quality and quantity appears better at home even when adaptation to the laboratory situation has been promoted. These new normative data are considered valuable for both clinical and research purposes where physiological sleep studies in children are required.