Talking In Your Sleep? Here’s What That Could Mean

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night to your spouse, roommate or child mumbling nonsense – or actual sentences – out loud while they sleep? Chances are, when morning rolled around, they had no idea that it even happened.

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Or maybe it’s you who’s been known to startle someone else awake with a midnight monologue.

Talking in your sleep (or somniloquy, as it’s known in the medical world), is a common type of parasomnia, or abnormal behavior during sleep. An estimated two in three people talk in their sleep at some point in their lives – and it’s especially common in children.

It can be a little irritating or embarrassing, depending on which side of it you’re on. Usually, it’s harmless, but occasionally it can be a sign of a more serious sleep disorder or health condition, says sleep specialist Michelle Drerup, PsyD.

Why do people talk in their sleep?

Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer here. You might expect that when someone sleep talks, they’re acting out something that’s unfolding in a dream they’re having. This may be true some of the time.

“There’s some evidence that, at times, sleep talking may be related to dreams, but this is not always the case,” Dr. Drerup explains. Most dreams happen when you’re in the deep, rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. But sleep talking can happen during any stage of sleep, including both REM and non-REM sleep.

Sleep talking might also be associated with other parasomnias, such as sleepwalking or sleep terrors

“Since most parasomnias are thought to be a mixed state between wakefulness and sleep, sleep talking may be more likely to happen when sleep patterns are disrupted or disturbed,” Dr. Drerup says.

That means any factor that’s known to disrupt sleep – like stress or alcohol – could be a contributing factor to sleep talking.

Though most cases of sleep talking aren’t associated with other serious health issues, it’s possible that it could be related to:

Obstructive sleep apnea.
REM sleep behavior disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder.

“If your sleep talking occurs suddenly as an adult, or if it involves intense fear, screaming or violent actions, you should consider seeing a sleep specialist,” Dr. Drerup says.

How to stop sleep talking

Since it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what causes sleep talking, there aren’t really any science-based ways to stop it.

Your best bet? Work on improving your sleep hygiene.

“Focusing on healthy sleep habits and improving the sleep environment may eliminate potential sleep disruptions and improve sleep quality,” Dr. Drerup says.

Take these steps to get your best sleep possible:

Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
Aim for seven to nine hours a night.
Give yourself 30 to 60 minutes of quiet, screen-free time to wind down before bed.
Minimize and manage your stress levels.
Limit alcohol consumption.
Avoid caffeine for at least six hours before bedtime.
Exercise regularly.
Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark.
Keep the temperature of the room between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit.