Sleep Apnea and Children
Most people associate sleep apnea with older people. And that’s because a fair number of adults have sleep apnea. But sleep apnea is also seen in children. Difference being that sleep apnea in children causes major developmental deficits.
Children with sleep apnea suffer from the same problems as adults with sleep apnea. But they have the added burden of growth and childhood in the mix. These children often perform poorly at school. As a consequence of poor school performance and lack of normal physical development, these children experience a “rough childhood”. These negative experiences eventually impact the child’s view of him or herself. The child begins to lose self confidence and develop other more severe emotional problems and eventually mood disorders. Their life is never allowed to develop to its fullest because they simply couldn’t get restful sleep to promote their proper growth and development.
Fortunately, when steps are taken early on, the child will follow a normal growth cycle. In children with sleep apnea sometimes taking the tonsils and adenoids out will resolve the problem entirely. And that is wonderful news. However, in some children, there might be a need for additional early therapy (such as orthodontics) to allow for the development of a better airway.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Children
Each child is different and unique. But after observing children with sleep apnea, certain symptoms are more often observed. Some of the symptoms include: snoring, nocturnal snorting, sleeping with mouth open, dry mouth in the morning, chest caving in and out during sleep in young children, sleeping in strange positions, confusion upon awakening, morning headaches, unrefreshing sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, overweight or underweight, learning problems, excessive irritability, change in personality, depression, difficulty concentrating, developmental problems, failure to thrive or grow, frequent upper respiratory infections and hyperactive behavior.
Sleep Apnea – A.D.D. – A.D.H.D.
Some children with sleep apnea are misdiagnosed as having A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. This is because they cannot sit still enough to concentrate because they start dozing off. These children are then placed on powerful prescription medication with serious side effects to treat their misdiagnosed condition. These medications typically contain a sedative to make the child calmer! Imagine not getting a full night’s sleep, then taking a sedative on top of that, and then repeating this process daily.
If you suspect your child has sleep apnea bring it up and discuss it with your family doctor. A sleep study may be prescribed by your doctor to determine the extent and severity of sleep apnea. An ENT specialist should be consulted to evaluate and (if necessary) remove the offending soft tissue (adenoids and tonsils). Evaluation by a dentist trained in sleep apnea will be necessary to resolve any developmental problems while there still is a chance in the “growing” child.
Contact us now to set up a consultation with our doctor if you suspect your child is suffering from sleep apnea.