Sleep Apnea in Children

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects millions of people by causing long or frequent pauses in breathing while asleep. As a result of these pauses, oxygen levels fall and several other problems can arise. While many people who have sleep apnea are adults, it is important to understand that children and teenagers are also susceptible to this disorder.

What is Sleep Apnea?

The most common form of sleep apnea occurs when the airway is obstructed. This is called obstructive sleep apnea. If left untreated, this disorder can result in learning problems, behavioral issues, growth problems, and heart problems.

The less common version of sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not adequately control breathing -during sleep. This version of the disorder is called central sleep apnea and mostly affects adults who have had a brain injury.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs while sleeping because the muscles in the back of the throat that normally keep your airway open relax too much and collapse the airway making it difficult to breathe. The effect is usually worsened for someone who has enlarged adenoids and tonsils and this is usually the most common cause for obstructive sleep apnea for children.

Other risk factors can include being overweight, a family history of sleep apnea, other medical conditions such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, deformities in the mouth, jaw and throat that reduce airway and a large tongue.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Excessive drowsiness during the day and not feeling rested can sometimes be a sign that someone is suffering from sleep apnea. This is because the brain is programed to wake briefly when oxygen levels in the body drop. When this happens, your body reopens the airway, but you may not always be aware of waking up since it is so brief. Other symptoms of sleep apnea in children include snoring accompanied by pauses, gasps or snorts. Heavy breathing while sleeping may also be an indicator. Restlessness and sleeping in unusual positions could be your child’s body’s way of trying to find a way to keep the airway open. Sudden bedwetting when it was previously not an issue and daytime tiredness or behavioral problems can also point towards sleep apnea.

You child may be difficult to wake in the morning because they did not get a good night’s rest; they may be excessively tired throughout the day and have troubles paying attention or with their behavior. This can all hurt their performance in school. Occasionally children will be misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or other learning disabilities. This is why it is important to keep an eye out on all symptoms your child may show and speak with your pediatrician.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

If your child is showing the symptoms above you will want to talk to your child’s pediatrician. It is likely that they will refer you to a sleep specialist who may want to do a sleep study. The sleep study will let the doctor check for obstructive sleep apnea by recording a variety of body functions while your child is asleep. Sleep studies can also help diagnose other disorders.

To conduct the study, sensors will be placed at select spots on your child’s body using tape or a mild adhesive. These sensors are connected to a computer that will record the information as your child sleeps. The study is painless and risk free, but they do require your child to spend the night in a sleep center or a hospital.

The sensors record data by monitoring eye movement, heartrate, breathing, brain waves, blood oxygen, snoring, and body movements and positions. All of this data is compiled for your doctor to review to help determine a diagnosis.

Treating Sleep Apnea

If your child is diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are a number of treatment methods that can help. Your child may be referred to an ear, nose and throat doctor to see if their tonsils and adenoids are too large and the cause of the sleep apnea. If this is the case then they may suggest that your child have an adenotonsillectomy. This operation will remove the adenoids and tonsils to create a more open airway for your child. This is one of the most effective treatments.

If the tonsils and adenoids are not causing the sleep apnea for your child, or if the operation doesn’t help their symptoms, your child’s doctor may recommend continuous positive airway pressure therapy, also known as a CPAP. If this is the case, your child will wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth while they sleep. This mask is part of a machine that continuously pumps air through the mouth and nose to prevent the airways from collapsing.

If your doctor believes that your child’s weight may be a factor with their sleep apnea then they may suggest you work on diet changes, exercise and other child-safe methods of losing weight. Weight loss can typically help improve symptoms of sleep apnea.

Consequences of Sleep Apnea Continuing Untreated

If sleep apnea is left untreated then it can cause severe consequences. The snoring could be an issue for other family members who may share a room with the child. Your child may become inattentive, disruptive and moody at school and at home. Lack of adequate sleep can also be a contributing factor for learning disabilities. Your child may start wetting the bed as sleep disorders increase urine production at night. Sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders can reduce the amount of growth hormone your child’s body produces which could result in slow growth and development. Many children with sleep apnea can develop an increased resistance to insulin and have daytime fatigue which can be contributing factors for obesity. Sleep apnea can also cause high blood pressure along with other heart and lung problems for your child.

It is very important to speak with your doctor if you believe that your child may have sleep apnea. This will allow them to treat the disorder and help your child get adequate rest for their growing and developing mind and body.