Children and Snoring: Is it Apnea?

A recent study about children and snoring should send a wake-up call to parents of snoring kids.

Kids really should not snore. Sure, the occasional cold or allergy will cause congestion, and that may make for a stuffy nose and hence snoring -- but in general, snoring in kids is not a good thing, and it shouldn't be dismissed.

Why?  Because research is now discovering that children who snore can have a serious sleep disorder -- sleep apnea. Recent research has shown that kids with undiagnosed apnea are at a higher risk for both behavior and learning problems.

Pediatric Neurologist, Eric Saslow, M.D., says, "It may well be that some people who are thought to have ADD or learning disabilities have more importantly a sleep disorder."

Not only do children with undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea have significantly lower scores on IQ, memory and language skills tests, but these data suggest that untreated childhood sleep apnea could permanently alter a developing child's learning potential.

So if you are a parent and you notice that your child stops breathing at night when sleeping, or even if they snore and stop snoring for brief periods of time and then seem to sputter and gasp -- even only 1 time per hour -- notify your doctor right away.

Also remember -- many doctors have not been trained in identifying sleep disorders in kids, so you may need to see a specialist.   (Here is a map of sleep centers across the U.S.)

Here are links to more information and resources about children and sleep:

• The Star Sleeper Program (with Garfield)
• The National Sleep Foundation's "Children and Sleep"
• Article:  Back to School, Back to Sleep
• Article:  Good, Sound Sleep for Your Child

Comments

[georgette]

besides having the tonsils and adenoids removed, the breathing machine, and acupuncture is there any other way to manage sleep apnea?

[stop snoring]

Improve your general lifestyle
Smokers and frequent drinkers are often more vulnerable to producing snores since the substances that they take encourage various body reactions that are well-suited for snoring.

Cigarettes can possibly modify the tissues of the respiratory tract in a way that the system is stripped off its protection from the harm of the chemicals found in cigars, tobaccos and cigarettes. Some studies say that the esophagus is lined with a specific type of cell that changes into another form once smoke from cigarettes pass through it. This will then induce the abnormal production of mucus that can add up to the obstructions.

Alcohol, on the other hand, can bring about relaxation on the muscles that further aggravate the condition. The muscles of the throat during sleep relax due to lack of control. This then creates the possibility that the muscles will interfere with the normal flow of air in and out of the lungs. Thus, the vibration that results to snores.