Sleep Case Series, Part 4: A Teenager with Sleepiness and Slurred Speech
neuroscienceCME Medical Simulation
 | Patient Info: A 15-year-old girl, 5'3", 120 lbs, presents with sleepiness during school and slurred speech. |
This activity offers CE credit for:
- Physicians (ACCME/AMA PRA Category 1)
- Pharmacists (ACPE)
Credit Expiration Date:
Saturday, June 5, 2010
 | Meeta Singh, MD Senior Staff Henry Ford Sleep Disorders Center Detroit, MI |
The onset of overwhelming sleepiness can occur in individuals in restful situations, such as being a passenger in a car or sitting in a movie theater. For others these naps can be far more intrusive and occur while talking to someone, while driving a car, or in the middle of eating.(1) Daytime sleepiness can be associated with a number of sleep disorders and can profoundly affect patient well-being and ability to function. When the constellation of symptoms also includes slurred speech and sleep-related hallucinations, an accurate diagnosis can be challenging for clinicians. Schizophrenia, alcohol use/abuse, and idiopathic hypersomnia may all be a part of the differential diagnosis.
Careful, evidence-based assessment is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. Sleep scales and inventories, polysomnography, and multiple sleep latency tests are among the available diagnostic tools that can help with accurate diagnosis to improve patient outcomes. Along with sleep hygiene, certain pharmacological agents have been shown to help patients with sleep disorders.(2)
This interactive, case-based learning tool offers a unique opportunity for clinicians to further develop their problem-solving skills, benefit from the input and expertise of experienced faculty, and to practice real-world clinical skills as they explore the integration of various treatments to improve patients outcomes.
- Chakravorty SS, Rye DB. Drugs Aging 2003;20:361-376.
- Thorpy M. Sleep Med 2007;8:427-440.
To identify and utilize evidence-based management strategies to improve outcomes for patients with sleep disorders.
At the end of this CE activity, participants should be able to:
- Recognize the diagnostic importance of daytime sleepiness as a key symptom in sleep disorders.
- Utilize effective, evidence-based sleep assessments and pharmacological strategies to improve overall outcomes in patients with sleep disorders.
- Develop a treatment plan including both behavioral measures and, if warranted, pharmacotherapy, for patients with sleep disorders.
Physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals interested in sleep disorders.
CME Outfitters, LLC, gratefully acknowledges an independent educational grant from Cephalon, Inc., in support of this CE activity.
CME Credit (Physicians):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Note to Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts Category I credit from AOACCME, Prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA Category I CME credit for the PRA from organizations accredited by ACCME.
CPE Credit (Pharmacists):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. 0.5 contact hours (0.05 CEUs)
Universal Program Number: 376-000-09-018-H01-P
Activity Type: knowledge-based
Post-tests, credit request forms, and activity evaluations can be completed online at www.neuroscienceCME.com (click on the Testing/Certification link under the Activities tab - requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately (80% pass rate required). This website supports all browsers except Internet
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Meeta Singh, MD
Dr. Meeta Singh graduated from the Government Medical College in Chandigarth, India in 1996. After medical school, Dr. Singh completed her psychiatry residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, between 1999 and 2004. In 2004, she moved to Detroit, MI, to complete her fellowship in Sleep Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital. Dr. Singh currently works as a senior staff member at the Henry Ford Hospital Sleep Disorders Center, where she has been since 2005. Dr. Singh specializes in treating patients with shift work sleep disorders, circadian rhythm disorders, and insomnia in both children and adults.
Disclosure Declaration
It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all its CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and attempted to resolve any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.
Dr. Singh has no disclosures to report.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
Faculty of this CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices.
CME Outfitters, LLC, the faculty, and Cephalon, Inc., do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use.
Questions about this activity? Call us at 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767).
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