Does your child snore?
- 20% of normal children snore occasionally and 7% to 10% of children snore on a nightly basis. Approximately 1% of children snore because they suffer from sleep and or breathing problems. Be aware of your child’s sleep and snoring patterns; make a snore log if necessary. Watch out for things like seasonal allergies that could possibly cause or worsen your child’s snoring. If you suspect something to be abnormal, see your health care provider or contact St Francis Sleep, Allergy and Lung Institute.
- Children who struggle to breath while sleeping may suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). In these cases you may hear a snort or gasp for air as they snore and their chest may appear to “suck in”. OSAS is described as stopped breathing while asleep. The stopped breathing is usually caused by the airway being partially or completely closed during sleep.
How do I know if my child’s snoring is serious?
Sleep specialists commonly place snoring into two categories, primary snoring and the kind of snoring associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Primary snoring is considered “normal” and is not usually harmful for your child. Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) will typically experience some difficulty sleeping at night and behavioral problems during the day. Undiagnosed OSAS can lead to problems in school, delayed growth and development, and even heart failure. Although OSAS is more commonly seen in males, both genders are susceptible.
Other Signs and symptoms
- Sleeping in an abnormal position, with head off the bed elevated with extra pillows
- Falling asleep or excessive daydreaming
- Excessive sweating during sleep
- School or other behavioral problems
- Restless Sleep
- Difficult to wake up, even though it seems he or she has had adequate sleep
- Headaches in the morning, or often during the day
- Irritable, aggressive or cranky
- Frequently snoring loud
- Short periods of stopped breathing during the night, followed by snorting, gasping for air or completely waking up
Because some of these symptoms are similar to those described in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some children are misdiagnosed as having ADHD when they are actually suffering from OSAS. If you have noticed some of the above symptoms in your child, you should talk to your pediatrician about referral to a sleep specialist.
What happens when my child stops breathing?
During sleep your child’s muscles are more relaxed, including the muscles used in breathing. In some cases the throat muscles relax too much and can partially or completely obstruct the airway. Narrower than normal throat passages allow the throat to close abnormally. In these cases, when the child tries to breathe, he or she experiences something similar to sucking fluid through wet paper straw. You will likely hear deep gasps as your child begins to breath again; remember, each episode may cause him or her to awaken briefly.
Anything making the throat more narrow or floppy increases the risk of OSAS. This includes enlarged tonsils and adenoids or an abnormality in your child’s facial and or jaw area. Obstructive Sleep apnea is also common in children with Down syndrome and other congenital problems that may affect the nervous system or structure of the face. Although allergies and nasal congestion can cause snoring, it rarely causes OSA.
How do I find out if my child has OSAS?
To be sure if your child has OSAS, you should visit a sleep specialist who has experience dealing with children. Typically the specialist will record your child’s sleep overnight in a laboratory. The test is called a polysomnography (PSG). This is the only way to accurately diagnose your child with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
On the night of the testing, various small electrodes are placed on the child’s head and body to monitor his or her sleep pattern. The recording will also monitor your child’s brain waves, limb movements, muscle activity, breathing pattern. The entire procedure is non-evasive and poses no danger to the patient. Usually a parent or guardian will be asked to stay with your child while he or she is getting ready for the sleep test. Some sleep centers, including St Francis Sleep Center, allow you to sleep in the same room as your child.
Treatment options
In a lot of cases, enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the main cause of OSAS and your doctor may recommend removing them. This surgical procedure is called an adenotonsillectomy. Other types of surgery may also be recommended. Other surgeries include: uvuloplaltopharyngoplasty (when the tonsils, uvula and part of the soft palate are removed), various types of jaw and facial surgery, and in life threatening situations tracheotomy (an opening in the lower portion of the neck). In some patients surgery can stop snoring even though it may not cure obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. A second PSG, a few months after surgery, may be needed to ensure it’s
Other options: Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a small mask worn over the nose during sleep. The mask provides air pressure that prevents the throat from closing during sleep. When surgical treatment is not possible, unsuccessful or unwanted, CPAP is a very helpful and effective alternative.
A Change in Lifestyle
If the sleep specialist suggests that obesity may be a contributing factor to your child’s OSAS, he or she may recommend a diet, exercise and behavioral program. Even if other treatments are used, weight loss in most obese children with OSAS often helps control the apnea and sometimes can lead to a cure. Most common children’s sleep problems can be corrected once they are identified and properly treated. Consulting with a sleep disorders specialist is recommended.
Does your child have sleep problems?
Things to look for:
- Too much time spent “helping” your child fall asleep.
- Your child wakes up frequently throughout the night.
- Your child’s behavioral changes and mood swings.
- Lost sleep as a result of your child’s nighttime patterns.
- Suffering parent-child relationship.
Common Sleep Disorders of Early Childhood
Sleep-onset association disorder: Your child may be associating, closely connecting, the action of falling asleep with something else (such as being rocked, nursed, and or held while falling asleep). When the action, person, or object is missing, your child is unable to fall asleep.
Limit-setting problems: If your child is at or above age two, and refuses to go to bed, stalls or makes it difficult for you to leave his or her side, this may signal a limit-setting problem. Limit-setting problems can occur not only at bedtime, but at nap time and when your child wakes up during the night.
Tips to help your child sleep soundly
- Keep and follow a consistent sleep/wake routine.
- Provide a relaxing setting around bedtime.
- Don’t allow your child to fall asleep watching television or videos.
- Pre-screen television programs, videos and computer games for appropriate material.
- Don’t let your child fall asleep with a bottle, while nursing, being held or rocked.
- Keep or limit your child’s consumption of food and drinks containing caffeine (chocolate, sodas, etc.)