For most people, talking in your sleep does not make you more tired or cause excessive daytime sleepiness. It usually requires no treatment in and of itself.
In less frequent cases it may be linked to another health condition or sleep disorder which you may be treated for.
In most cases of either chronic or temporary events, you usually work through it and it goes away, but it may come and go without any other signs even after years between.
First of all, what is sleep talking ?
Somniloquy is the term given for sleep talking. Chronic sleep talking in adults is considered a sleep disorder which can occur during REM sleep as you are dreaming or non rem sleep.
It usually happens as we move through a lighter half-awake state during transition from one stage of sleep to another. This is known as a temporary arousal, when we begin to wake up but not all the way.
Normally your mouth and vocal cords are switched off during sleep but when you talk in your sleep it temporarily gets reactivated and you talk out through the character you are dreaming about.
It’s usually not rational and doesn’t make much sense.
What makes sleep talking chronic?
There are actually stages of sleep talking. In stages 1 and 2 you are in lighter sleep and may speak more understandably.
It’s could be possible to make out words, sentences or even a conversation.
Stages 3 and 4 occur in deeper phases of sleep and you may barely make out words or just hear sounds similar to moaning.
Severity can range from mild when you sleep talk less than once a month to moderate, occurring one time a week and it doesn’t affect the sleep of others.
At the severe level it happens most or all nights and is disruptive to the sleep of other people.
What causes sleep talking
While anyone can talk in their sleep it seems to occur more often in children and men and becomes less common as you age.
Evidence also suggests it may run in the family so if your parent(s) were sleep talkers you could be too and so could your children.
Other factors can influence or trigger sleep talking such as alcohol, stress, sleep deprivation, illness or fever, and mental health conditions like depression.
If you have other sleep disorders it may increase your chances of sleep talking as well. Sleep apnea, sleep walking and nightmares or night terrors may make you more likely to talk in your sleep.
Does talking in your sleep cause excessive daytime sleepiness
Although, not often serious enough to interfere with sleep quality, in some people it may be disruptive enough to feel sleep deprived the next day.
But it is more likely to be the result of and underlying health condition or sleep disorder linked to your sleep talking rather than the sleep talking itself.
In rare cases it has been a sign of a more serious health condition. One documented patient, for example, was actually experiencing episodes of nighttime seizures while sleep talking.
Most people are unaware that they are sleep talkers unless someone else notices since it occurs while you sleep and have no memory of it when you wake.
If you do suspect you sleep talk and have excessive daytime sleepiness that interferes with your normal daily activities it can help to consult your doctor.
If you did not sleep talk as a child and start when you are an adult it is more likely caused by an underlying health problem.
How often do you talk in your sleep? Leave your answer in the comments below.
Goodnight!
The information in today’s post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. When you have questions regarding your health you should seek the advice of your health care provider.
references
[Ictal speech manifesting as sleep talking: A case report]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28202825/