Sleep Apnea in Children: What Parents Need to Know

During sleep, those with sleep apnea will repeatedly stop breathing. Although many tend to think of sleep apnea as a condition in adults, it can also happen to children. Because pediatric sleep apnea can seriously affect a child’s well-being and growth, it is important for parents to recognize its signs, understand how doctors diagnose it and learn about its treatment options. Throughout this detailed guide, parents will learn useful information about ensuring their kids get enough rest.

What Do You Need to Know About Pediatric Sleep Apnea

• Sleep apnea in children is usually either obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or central sleep apnea (CSA).
• Most often in children, OSA is when their airway becomes narrow or fully blocked during sleep. A variety of things can cause this blockage, including large tonsils and adenoids, being overweight or having structural problems.
• Central Sleep Apnea is rare and relates to the brain not correctly signaling the muscles that control breathing.
• If not managed, both types can cause big health issues that can affect a child’s growth, behavior and brain development.

Signs and symptoms of pediatric sleep apnea

Early intervention is important when we can recognize the signs of sleep apnea in our children. Children might have a difficult time describing their emotions which is why parents ought to look for the below signs.

1. A lot of people with sleep apnea find that loud, ongoing snoring is a common sign. Snoring every now and again is normal for many children, but constant snoring could be a sign of a medical concern.
2. You may observe that your child’s breathing stops for 10-20 seconds at a time during sleep, followed by breathing noises as they begin again.
3. Children with sleep apnea may toss and turn at night and often wake up several times.
4. Extreme sleepiness at daytime, like having trouble waking, dozing off in school or feeling sluggish, is a sign your sleep cycle may be broken at night.
5. Sleep apnea may cause someone to show irritability, act hyperactive, have trouble paying attention or experience learning problems. Because of this, the symptoms are commonly thought to show up as behavioral issues or ADHD.
6. Inadequate growth or weak weight gain may happen when sleeping issues disrupt the body’s production of growth hormones.
7. A sign of obstructive sleep apnea is when someone breathes through their mouth most nights.
8. Often, enlarged tonsils or adenoids can be seen and might block the airways.

How Pediatric Sleep Apnea is Detected

Diagnosing sleep apnea in children needs a thorough method. This is what you need to do:

1. At the beginning, a healthcare provider reviews a person’s medical history and checks for any signs, family background and other health problems. Specifically, healthcare providers will physically explore the patient’s airway.
2. Sleep apnea is most reliably identified through the sleep study method known as polysomnography. Sleep studies for children are done by watching their sleep in a controlled environment for one night. It measures brain activity, how the eyes are moving, heart rate, how much oxygen the blood has and breathing. There are times when medical assistance is present during a home sleep study.
3. Should the initial screening discover a significant finding, your child may need an overnight oximetry or an ENT assessment to look at their tonsils and adenoids.

Treatment for pediatric sleep apnea includes a number of methods

Treatment for pediatric sleep apnea varies according to the reason for the condition and how serious it is. Following are the main ways treatment is given:

1. When tonsils and adenoids are too large, the usual first treatment is to remove them by surgery. In many cases, this surgery known as adenotonsillectomy can lead to a big reduction or complete removal of symptoms.
2. With CPAP therapy, air is delivered through a mask that covers the nose and/or mouth to make sure the airway doesn’t close. Many children receive this treatment when adenotonsillectomy fails to relieve their symptoms or when there are other anatomical abnormalities.
3. Weight Control**: Helping children lose weight can lessen or remove sleep apnea symptoms for those who are overweight. Taking up healthier eating habits and doing more exercise is usually recommend.
4. For some children, the main cause of apnea is sleeping on their back. This therapy uses methods to help improve side sleeping by supplying special pillows or devices you can wear.
5. With these medications, the child’s swelling in the nose is reduced which improves their ability to breathe.
6. In some cases, the adenoids are the only part of the tonsil-adenoid complex that is removed for treatment.
7. Myofunctional Therapy is a treatment where you do exercises to get better control over your throat muscles and breathing when sleeping.
8. Dental or orthodontic devices may be given to patients who might benefit from having their airway maintained.
9. Managing sleep, avoiding TV or phone an hour prior to rest and arranging the bedroom in a way that helps sleep can also help manage symptoms.

Early Intervention is Very Important

It is very important to identify and treat pediatric sleep apnea early, to avoid problems in the future. Those with sleep apnea who do not receive treatment may develop issues like:

• A lack of sufficient sleep during childhood can harm academic performance and cause children to behave improperly.
• Smoking can lead to higher blood pressure and different heart problems.
• When people don’t get enough sleep, it can delay their growth and development.
• They can both feel a big influence on how they go about daily activities due to the child’s symptoms.

Conclusion

If left untreated, pediatric sleep apnea may cause various problems affecting a child’s health. If parents realize the symptoms, see why early diagnosis matters and learn about treatment choices, they can support their child’s health. If you notice signs of sleep apnea in your child, talk to a doctor about what is best to do next. Getting help early can greatly improve both your child’s health and well-being.

Take the first step toward better sleep for your child

Visit apacdsm.com to learn more about pediatric sleep apnea and find dental sleep medicine experts who understand the unique needs of children. Early support makes a lasting difference—because every child deserves a healthy night’s rest.