Sleep disorders in children with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) are reported to be common, consequential, and potentially treatable. To design effective studies of sleep in LGS, feasible methods of sleep assessment in affected children must be determined.

We prospectively studied the feasibility of the following sleep assessment modalities among families whose child had LGS: 1. polysomnogram, 2. home sleep apnea test (HSAT), 3. biweekly sleep questionnaire, 4. daily sleep tracking device (Apple Watch), and 5. daily sleep logs. Participants were enrolled in a 2-week study with the option to participate for an additional two weeks. Caregivers rated their experience of each modality. The primary outcome was percent completion of each sleep assessment modality.

Among 32 participants (mean age 12.0 ± 3.2 years), 10/10 families who agreed to polysomnography, and 15/16 of families who agreed to HSAT completed these one-time modalities. Completion rates of the biweekly sleep questionnaires were 78 % (baseline), 25 % (two weeks), and 36 % (four weeks). Completion rates of the daily modalities for the combined sample were: 1. Apple Watch: median 100 % (IQR 100 %,100 %) of planned nights by the 16/32 participants who opted in, and 2. daily sleep logs: median 64 % of planned days (IQR 0,95 %). Nearly 90 % of participants remained in the study at the end of two weeks. The Apple Watch was rated as the most convenient and most preferred modality.

It may be feasible to conduct longitudinal multi-modal ambulatory assessments of sleep of children with LGS for up to two weeks.

Sleep

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Study design

Ambulatory assessment

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.