What are confusional arousals?
Confusional arousals consist of a state of confusion during or following an arousal from sleep.
They occur during slow-wave sleep (N3) and occur during the first third of the night.
The child may appear to be awake during some or most of a confusional arousal, despite the diminished response to external stimuli.
Most episodes last about 5 to 15 minutes and occur in children age 3 to 13 years.
Confusional arousals resolve as children age.
Young children who have confusional arousals often go on to sleepwalk as an adolescent.
