Sleep talking, also known as somniloquy, is a very common occurrence and while it can be upsetting to those listening or to those who did the talking, it is not usually considered a medical condition. There are times however, when it is caused by another underlying sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or REM sleep behavior disorder. If that is the case, it will usually resolve itself when the sleep disorder is treated. Other causes of sleep talking include emotional stress, fever, sleep deprivation, depression, substance abuse, certain medications or day-time drowsiness.

When you observe someone talking in their sleep, it can be quite amusing to hear what they are saying; oftentimes it’s just gibberish but other times sleep talkers can carry on complete conversations in their sleep. Their chatter may be completely harmless, but there are times when it morphs into the disturbing category. It is not uncommon for sleep talkers to become vulgar or offensive and some are even known to yell or appear terrified during one of their diatribes.

As much as fifty percent of children between the ages of 3 and 10 years old experience sleep talking episodes at least a few nights per week. This usually fades as they grow older and once they reach adulthood, only about five percent continue to talk in their sleep. If sleep talking begins suddenly as an adult, or if it involves intense fear, screaming or violent actions, it is a good idea to make an appointment with a sleep specialist. In rare cases, adult onset sleep talking can be an indication of nocturnal seizures or a psychiatric disorder.

Unless there is an underlying cause for sleep talking, such as an undiagnosed sleep disorder or other type of medical condition, there is no medical treatment necessary. Since sleep talking can be disturbing to bed partners however, there are some techniques you can try to help alleviate the severity and frequency of sleep talking episodes.

• Follow a regular sleep schedule 7 days a week
• Get adequate amounts of sleep during the night
• Avoid napping during the day which can disrupt the normal sleep–wake cycle
• Ensure adequate exposure to natural light during the day which can help maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle
• Refrain from stimulants before sleep such as caffeine, alcohol or nicotine
• Do not indulge in a heavy meal before bedtime
• Practice stress relieving techniques before bed such as yoga or meditation to help your body get into a relaxed state before attempting sleep

If these techniques don’t work, or your sleep talking episodes worsen, consider seeing a sleep doctor for a sleep study to determine if there are other conditions causing the episodes. A sleep study can diagnose a host of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy and night terrors to name a few. If a sleep disorder is diagnosed, a sleep specialist will work with your physician to determine the proper course of treatment to resolve the issue.