Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea in children, like sleep apnea in adults, can have various long-term severe repercussions. Because untreated sleep apnea causes a child’s sleep to be frequently disrupted, it can have a wide range of consequences. These are some of them:
Poor performance in academics: When a child is continuously exhausted from a stormy night’s sleep, it might be challenging to pay attention in class and comprehend information. Learning difficulties and low academic achievement may result from continuous poor sleep.
Misdiagnosis of ADHD: In children, lack of sleep can lead to hyperactivity. As a result, signs of obstructive sleep apnea are thought to be present in up to 25% of children diagnosed with ADHD.
Poor social skills: Children with sleep apnea may struggle in social circumstances due to hyperactivity and low academic achievement. Together this may lead to a poor sense of self-esteem as well.
Physical Dangers: Sleep apnea in children can result in high blood pressure (raising the risk of stroke and heart attack), juvenile obesity, growth and cognitive delays, and cardiac difficulties in extreme cases.
Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea
If you observe indicators of sleep apnea in your child and want to find out if they have it, you should first consult with your pediatrician. To help diagnose your child, your doctor may recommend you to a sleep specialist who will do a sleep study. A home sleep test, which monitors heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow, and breathing patterns, may also be available.
During a sleep study for children with sleep apnea, clinicians look for:
- Movements of the eyes
- heartbeats per minute
- Patterns of breathing
- Waves in the brain
- Oxygen levels in the blood
- CO2 concentrations
- Other noises such as snoring
- Sleep postures and body movements
The doctor will determine the diagnosis and assist with the following stages in treatment once all tests and assessments have been completed.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Because sleep apnea can manifest itself in various ways in each individual who suffers from it, your doctor may suggest various treatment options for your child. These can include the following:
Loss of weight: If your child is overweight, your doctor may advise you to lose weight and adopt better habits. Weight loss usually solves the problem for overweight children, and it’s crucial to work closely with your doctor while assisting your child with any weight-loss routine.
Sleeping patterns: It’s also a good idea to look at your child’s sleeping habits to see if that will assist in addressing the problem. To assist in setting a regular bedtime, consider restricting and cutting the off-screen time a couple of hours before bed, avoiding sugary foods before bed, and providing a comfortable and dark environment.
Breathing devices: To assist your child’s breathing at night, your doctor may recommend a mouthpiece or a CPAP machine. While PAP devices are often used to treat OSA in adults, they are mainly reserved for children with OSA that continue following an adenotonsillectomy.
Surgery: The removal of the tonsils, also known as an adenotonsillectomy, is one of the most common treatments for sleep apnea in children. This surgery can lessen snoring and breathing pauses at night by removing the tissue that regularly blocks the airway.
Find Sleep Apnea Relief in Washington
Dr. Buck is a facial orthopedist based in the state of Washington. Through teamwork and combining their expertise, Dr. Buck and his fellow ENT physicians and pulmonologists help their patients find relief from sleep apnea. With Dr. Buck and his team, you can find relief from the severity and alleviate symptoms from sleep breathing issues. For more information on Dr. Buck’s practice and the treatment options he provides, please schedule an appointment by giving us a call today at 425-361-7499. Additionally, one may contact us by filling out our online form.
