Pediatric Sleep Breathing Disorders and Sleep Apnea
Does your child snore, or breathe loudly throughout the night? As many as one in five children experience breathing problems during sleep, but because there are many unreported cases there could actually be many more.

Sleep breathing disorders (SBD), including sleep apnea, can affect your child’s sleep and behavior, and if left untreated can lead to more serious problems.

What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when breathing is disrupted during sleep. This occurs when the airway is blocked, resulting in choking that causes a slower heart rate and increased blood pressure, alerting your child’s brain and causing him to wake up.
What are the symptoms of SBD?
  • snoring
  • mouth breathing
  • sleep apnea (abnormally long pauses in respiration)
  • behavioral changes (child may be more cranky, have more or less energy, and may have difficulty concentrating in school)
Causes of SDB in children:
Any factor that can cause the airway to be blocked may cause an interruption in sleep breathing. The following are the most common causes of SDB:
  • enlarged tonsils and / or adenoids
  • obesity (extra fat around the neck and throat blocks the airway)
  • neuromuscular weakness of airway muscles
  • craniofacial abnormalities (i.e. abnormalities of jaw bone or tongue)
Dangers of SDB:
If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to more serious problems, including:
  • stunted growth
  • increased risk of behavioral or cognitive issues, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other learning disabilities
  • sleep deprivation
  • increased bed wetting
  • attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • breathing difficulty
  • heart problems

If you think your child may be suffering from a sleep breathing disorder, contact us, your pediatrician, or an ear nose throat (ENT) specialist today!