Sleep-talking facts for kids

Somniloquy, also known as sleep-talking, is when a person speaks out loud while they are asleep. It's a type of parasomnia, which means it's an unusual behavior that happens during sleep. Sleep-talking can be anything from quiet mumbles to loud shouts or long, sometimes unclear, speeches.

This can happen many times during one night's sleep. It can occur during different sleep stages, including both NREM (non-rapid eye movement) and REM sleep. However, like sleepwalking or night terrors, it often happens during deeper NREM sleep. When sleep-talking happens during REM sleep, it's like words from a dream are spoken out loud.

What is Sleep-Talking?

Sleep-talking is usually harmless. It's a common experience, especially for kids. Sometimes, it might wake up others nearby. If the sleep-talking is very dramatic, emotional, or uses strong language, it could be a sign of another sleep issue. You can find out if someone sleep-talks by having a family member listen or by using a sound recorder that turns on when it hears noise.

Why Do We Talk in Our Sleep?

Scientists have studied why people talk in their sleep. They found some interesting connections.

Family Connections and Genes

Research from 1966 suggests that sleep-talking can run in families. If your parents talk in their sleep, you might be more likely to do it too. However, some people start sleep-talking later in life, even if they didn't do it as children or teenagers. Also, it can happen even if no one else in your family has sleep-talked.

Stress and Sleep-Talking

Feeling stressed can also cause someone to talk in their sleep. For example, studies have shown that people who have experienced very difficult or stressful events sometimes talk more in their sleep. Being very tired or having a fever can also make sleep-talking more likely.

Other Sleep Issues

Sleep-talking can sometimes happen on its own. But it can also be a part of other sleep problems, such as:

• Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD) – This is when people act out their dreams, sometimes with loud or emotional talking.
• Sleepwalking – Walking around while still asleep.
• Night terrors – These are episodes of intense fear, screaming, or shouting during sleep.
• Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) – Eating while asleep.

How Common is Sleep-Talking?

Sleep-talking is very common! About half of all young children talk in their sleep at least once a year. Many people tend to sleep-talk less often after they turn 25. Interestingly, some people who never sleep-talked as kids might start doing it as adults. It seems that sleep-talking can be passed down through families.

Studies show that how often children sleep-talk can vary. About half of kids have episodes at least once a year. Less than 10% of children talk in their sleep every night. Around 20% to 25% do it at least once a week. Researchers haven't found any differences in sleep-talking based on gender or family income.

It can be tricky to know exactly how many people sleep-talk. This is because people who talk in their sleep usually don't remember it or even know it's happening. This also makes it hard to know exactly when someone first started sleep-talking.

What to Do About Sleep-Talking

Most of the time, you don't need any special treatment for sleep-talking. It usually doesn't cause problems with your sleep or your health.

However, there are some good habits you can practice to help limit how often you might talk in your sleep. These are called sleep hygiene tips:

• Limit drinks with caffeine during the day.
• Put away electronics, like phones and tablets, at least an hour before bedtime.
• Keep your bedroom cool and comfortable for sleeping.
• Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
• Get at least an hour of physical exercise each day.
• Make sure your sleeping space is quiet and has few distractions.

Sleep-Talking in Stories

Sleep-talking has appeared in famous books and plays for a long time.

One well-known example is in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In a famous scene, Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep. She washes her hands and says the line, "Out, damned spot! out, I say!" This shows her troubled mind.

The Dormouse in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland also talks in his sleep. He even sings! This adds to the funny and dreamlike feeling of the story.

See Also

In Spanish: Somniloquía para niños

• Dion McGregor, a famous 20th-century sleep-talker