Is your child suffering from sleep apnea?

Is your child getting enough sleep? Chances are, he or she might not be sleeping as well as you think.

Negative sleep health in children has become quite prevalent in recent years. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that a quarter of children under five are not getting enough sleep. This statistic is troubling as sleep problems in children and adolescents have led to behavioral issues, obesity problems, and decreased attentiveness at school.

 Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep disorder that causes children to have difficulty breathing in their sleep. This condition is due to a child’s narrowing or blocked breathing airway while asleep.

Warning Signs

It is essential to look for warning signs of sleep apnea in your children, both while asleep and during the day. Pediatric sleep apnea may cause your child to experience any of the following signs or symptoms while asleep:

  • Snoring

  • Pauses in breathing (from a few seconds up to a minute)

  • Coughing or choking

  • Restlessness during sleep

  • Mouth breathing

  • Nighttime sweating

  • Sleep walking or night terrors

  • Bed-wetting

If your child is struggling with pediatric OSAS, they might experience the following signs or symptoms during the daytime:

  • Have behavioral problems

  • Poor performance in school

  • Experience poor weight gain

  • Have difficulty paying attention

  • Be hyperactive

  • Daytime sleepiness or irritability

The earlier you know that your child might be struggling with this sleep disorder, the greater the chance you can prevent poor sleep from affecting their day-to-day lives.

Pediatric vs. Adult Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can occur in children and adults. While hosting some similarities, there are some significant differences between childhood sleep apnea and adult sleep apnea. Adults who struggle with OSAS are accustomed to dealing with daytime sleepiness, while children are more prone to demonstrating behavioral problems.

The cause of sleep apnea in adults and children differs as well. Enlarged tonsils are the most common factor in adolescents, while obesity is often an underlying cause of sleep apnea for adults.

Long-term Effects

There are both short-term and long-term effects of poor sleep in the lives of children, with many of the short-term symptoms and risk factors listed above. However, untreated childhood OSAS can have many risk factors that can negatively impact a person’s long-term health. Sleep apnea left untreated in children can affect their growth, causing them to be smaller in stature. Other leading sleep experts have tied pediatric sleep apnea to heart problems and strained cognitive development.

If your child is having sleep problems, it’s important to discuss your concerns with your pediatrician or with a board-certified sleep doctor who can help to accurately diagnose and treat.

At FusionSleep®, we have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients, including children as young as two years old, get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, in-lab and at-home sleep testing options, and virtual appointments on our established telemedicine platform. Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.

Lisa Driscoll