Sleep Apnea in Children
Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Mon 08/11/2014 - 15:43
Does your child snore? Does he or she breathe through the mouth during the day, act out in school or suffer from hyperactivity? If so, your child may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The Difficulty With Diagnosing Children With Sleep Apnea
It can be difficult to diagnose sleep apnea in children, and many symptoms of sleep apnea can be incorrectly diagnosed as a different disorder or condition. For instance, some children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) actually have sleep apnea instead. For these children, getting poor, interrupted sleep each night manifests itself in symptoms that are easily mistaken as signs of ADD or ADHD.
OSA Symptoms in Children
If your child experiences certain symptoms such as snoring, sleepwalking or hyperactivity, consider the possibility that he or she suffers from OSA. The following are possible symptoms of OSA in kids:
· Snoring
· Bed wetting
· Sleepwalking
· Breathing through the mouth during the day
· Poor performance at school
· Hyperactivity
· ADD or ADHD
· Hostility or anger
Often, establishing a link between a child’s ADD or ADHD and sleep apnea can eliminate the need for certain medications.
The Link Between Childhood Obesity and OSA
In addition, recent studies demonstrate that there is a correlation between sleep disorders in children and childhood obesity. This makes sense, considering that weight gain and insomnia are often linked in adults. To help children overcome childhood obesity and achieve a healthy body weight, they must get quality shuteye.
If your child has any of these symptoms, and you believe he or she might be suffering from sleep apnea, it is time to schedule an appointment with New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stein or his trusted staff, contact New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions by calling (855) 949-7667.
