An Unrecoverable Sleep Deficit : A literary analysis of Adolescents’ sleep loss and the consequences of sleep deficit regarding academic performance

Abstract: There is a noticeable difference in the debate regarding adolescents’ sleep patterns between the biological clock and society’s clock when we talk about adolescents. Sleep scientists or somnologists, are alarming as more evidence reach the surface that young people are not getting the recommended sleep that is required to perform academically well. Not only are there direct connections between sleep deficit and academic performance, but sleep deficit also takes a critical toll upon their physical and mental health. The problem is that adolescents’ circadian cycle is postponed with a few hours compared to children and adults. This results in a major sleep deficit when adolescents must adjust to societal rhythms and habits – a clock they are not programmed biologically to follow. Adolescents must attend to school in the early morning, when in reality their needs point to that school times in fact should start around 10:00. Society’s view has traditionally been that teenagers are lazy but in fact evidence does prove that it may not be the case. The following essay will therefore serve as an informative update to what has been stated by somnologists and raise awareness regarding adolescents and what happens when they are exposed to a chronic sleep deficit put on them by society.