Causes And Treatment Of Sleep Talking
Sleep talking, also known as somniloquy, is a sleep disorder characterized by talking during sleep without being aware of it. This is referred to as a parasomnia, which is any condition that creates abnormal behaviors during sleep. Most people will experience at least one episode of sleep talking within their lifetime, which makes this one of the most common parasomnias that can occur.
Unlike most parasomnias, which happen only during specific parts of the sleep cycle, sleep talking can occur either during rapid eye movement (REM) or non-REM sleep. Sleep talking differs from other parasomnias that can occur during sleep, such as catathrenia, a breathing disorder that causes audible groaning, or REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), which is where a person physically acts out their dreams.
Causes Of Sleep Talking
Scientists are still unsure of the exact cause of sleep talking. However, there is evidence that it may be due to genetics, as studies show that the parasomnia can run in families. Sleep talking might also be associated with other parasomnias, such as sleepwalking or sleep terrors.
Although most cases of sleep talking aren’t associated with other serious health issues, it can possibly be related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other factors that may cause sleep talking include certain medications, emotional stress, fever, substance abuse, or mental health conditions.
Symptoms Of Sleep Talking
As the name suggests, the main symptom of sleep talking is audible expression that occurs during sleep without the person being aware of it. The noises made during sleep talking can either be gibberish or they can resemble normal speech. A study conducted of somniloquy determined that around half of recorded sleep talking was incomprehensible. In these cases, sleep talking presented itself as mumbling or muffled speech.
For the cases where sleep talking was understandable, it typically followed a regular conversation, showing that the person was likely following the dialogue within their dream. Many cases of sleep talking recorded negative speech, indicating that sleep talking may reflect dreams with high levels of conflict. Episodes of sleep talking are typically short, usually involving only a few sentences that are not remembered upon waking.
Complications Of Sleep Talking
The main complication of sleep talking is the disturbance of sleep for any partners or roommates who get woken by the episode. They may be awoken unexpectedly in the middle of the night due to the sleep talking, or they may be offended by the words uttered. Although there are steps that can be taken to reduce the possibility of sleep talking, it may also be necessary for the other party to take precautions as well.
These precautions can include wearing earplugs or headphones to block out the noise, using a white noise machine to create background noise that drowns out the sleep talking, or in extreme cases, sleeping in separate rooms. If sleep talking is a consistent issue, it may cause excessive daytime sleepiness or insomnia for the other party.
If sleep talking occurs alongside other sleep issues such as nightmares or sleepwalking, it may be a sign of a larger sleep disorder that can cause disrupted or insufficient sleep. In this case, a doctor can help determine whether the sleep talking is a standalone issue or part of a more intense disorder.
Treatment For Sleep Talking
Since the cause of sleep talking is not fully understood, there is limited information on proven methods to stop this parasomnia. In many cases, treatment for sleep talking is not needed due to its low frequency and minimal adverse effects. However, if you would like to reduce your amount of sleep talking, there are steps you can take that may help.
These steps focus on the importance of sleep hygiene, which is a term that refers to an individual’s sleep habits and environment. Improving sleep hygiene is able to reduce possible causes of sleep disturbances and create routines that promote better overall sleep quality. The most important methods of improving your sleep hygiene include having a consistent nighttime routine and sleep schedule and avoiding any caffeine or other stimulants after late afternoon or evening.
Other helpful ways to improve your sleep hygiene are by giving yourself time to wind down before bed, put away electronic devices at least half an hour before you plan to sleep, getting regular exposure to daylight, and making time for physical activity. It’s also important to make sure your sleep environment is conducive for good sleep quality, which involves having limited light and sound pollution, as well as comfortable bedding.
