They experience uncontrollable attacks of sleep several times a day, bizarre auditory or visual hallucinations as they are falling asleep. Episodes of being unable to move or speak or both at the same time of falling asleep and awakening, and attacks of sudden muscle weakness that last from a few seconds to perhaps 30 minutes, can also be symptomatic of narcolepsy. During the early stages of the disorder, They often report great difficulty getting up in the morning. When awakened, they may be confused, aggressive and verbally abusive. Because sleepiness is common in teenagers, it often is overlooked until other symptoms show up.
Early diagnosis is important because sleepiness interferes with classroom performance.
Teens with narcolepsy benefit from regularly scheduled naps and often, from stimulant medication. A sleep terror episode usually begins with a bloodcurdling scream or shout, and may produce signs that suggest extreme terror, such as dilated pupils, rapid breathing, racing heart, sweating, and extreme agitation. During a sleep terror, the person may bolt out of bed and run around the room or even out of the house. During a frenzied event the person can hurt themselves or others. As disturbing and frightening as sleep terrors are to an observer, individuals having them are usually totally unaware of what they are doing and do not remember the incident when they awaken.