Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis and Associated Sleep Abnormalities

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) also known at Batten's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in children. Families often report the patient has a sleep disturbance. This is a questionnaire to be completed by the family to better understand the sleep pattern and sleep difficulties experienced by individuals who have been diagnosed with NCL.

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in children characterized by seizures, blindness, ataxia, myoclonia and loss of cognition. There are 12 clinical types identified with a concurrent genetic abnormality. The diagnosis is determined by gene testing and skin biopsy findings although genetic testing has supplanted skin biopsy in most cases. Numberous studies have confirmed the presence of sleep disorder in patients with NCL but these cases were documented over a decade ago. The investigators would like to study the prevalence of sleep disorders in this group of patients. The investigators will distribute a Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) to the family of the patient to complete and provide a information regarding the patient's sleep. In addition to the validated sleep questionnaire a separate demographic questionnaire will be given to the family to identify the type of NCL, presence or absence of blindness, presence or absence of seizures, interventions tried to treat sleep disturbance. The last questions of the study are asking for the presence or absence of Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms.