If your child is one who snores, they are not alone. Researchers have found that 20% of normal children will snore on occasion. Most of the time children who snore are healthy. But 2% of children who snore have a more serious health problem. Be aware of your childs sleep and snoring habits. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, consult a pediatric sleep specialist.
If a child struggles to breath while they sleep and also snore, they may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). If a child has OSAS they may snort or gasp when they snore. OSAS is a condition that causes breathing to start and stop throughout the night. This happens when the throat narrows or closes during sleep.j
A sleep specialist can tell you if your childs snoring is benign or if it is associated with OSAS. Snoring, in and of itself, is not dangerous to a child. But OSAS does come with associated health issues. If a child has OSAS they may show behaviorial problems during the day. Undiagnosed OSAS can lead to problems at school, delayed growth and even heart failure due to decreases in blood oxygen levels.
Both boys and girls can suffer from OSAS and will have some or all of the following:
1) Sleep in an abnormal position
2) Snore loudly and often
3) Stop breathing during the night for a brief time, followed by a gasp or snort
4) Sweat during sleep
5) Have school problems
6) Sleep restlessly
7) Are difficult to awaken
8) Morning headaches or headaches during the day
9) Irritability and crankiness
10) Fall asleep in school
11) Have attention deficit disorder (ADHD)
12) Bedwetting
Sometimes children are misdiagnosed with ADHD when they actually have OSAS. The symptoms of both disorders can be similar. If you notice that your child has some of the above symptoms, talk to your pediatrician about seeing a sleep specialist for chldren.
If a child struggles to breath while they sleep and also snore, they may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). If a child has OSAS they may snort or gasp when they snore. OSAS is a condition that causes breathing to start and stop throughout the night. This happens when the throat narrows or closes during sleep.j
A sleep specialist can tell you if your childs snoring is benign or if it is associated with OSAS. Snoring, in and of itself, is not dangerous to a child. But OSAS does come with associated health issues. If a child has OSAS they may show behaviorial problems during the day. Undiagnosed OSAS can lead to problems at school, delayed growth and even heart failure due to decreases in blood oxygen levels.
Both boys and girls can suffer from OSAS and will have some or all of the following:
1) Sleep in an abnormal position
2) Snore loudly and often
3) Stop breathing during the night for a brief time, followed by a gasp or snort
4) Sweat during sleep
5) Have school problems
6) Sleep restlessly
7) Are difficult to awaken
8) Morning headaches or headaches during the day
9) Irritability and crankiness
10) Fall asleep in school
11) Have attention deficit disorder (ADHD)
12) Bedwetting
Sometimes children are misdiagnosed with ADHD when they actually have OSAS. The symptoms of both disorders can be similar. If you notice that your child has some of the above symptoms, talk to your pediatrician about seeing a sleep specialist for chldren.