Snoring is considered a normal, non-threatening thing for adults and children to do from time to time. However, frequent snoring can also be a sign that someone is not getting enough air while they sleep and that their airway is obstructed. This threat is even more dangerous for children who are more susceptible to the side effects of poor sleep. Childhood sleep apnea can affect physical and neurological development in addition to the other countless dangers sleep apnea poses to adults.
Is it tough for your child to get out of bed in the morning, or are they having behavior trouble in school? It’s possible that it’s not only that they don’t want to get dressed and go to school. Sleep apnea in children has a significant impact on their sleep quality and could signify something more serious. Some warning signs that your child may experience sleep apnea include:
If your child is regularly having trouble getting up for school in the morning, it may be because they aren’t getting enough sleep at night. Many parents try resolving this by putting their children to sleep earlier in the night, but for children with undiagnosed sleep apnea, this won’t help.
Everyone gets fatigued at times during the day; however, if it is excessive for your child and appears to be regularly occurring, these symptoms should be noted.
A child who has difficulties paying attention could be suffering from sleep apnea. Because hyperactivity can impact a child’s academic performance, this behavior has the potential to be misdiagnosed as a learning disability such as ADHD.
Snoring is more common in overweight children than in non-overweight youngsters. Weight increase can narrow the airways therefore decreasing weight can usually help with snoring.
Asthmatic children’s breathing can already be restricted, which can result in breathing obstruction during sleep.
Allergies, congestion, and flu-like symptoms are all common symptoms. An obstruction can cause snoring in an otherwise open airway due to congestion. Dealing with a child’s allergy or sinus problems can sometimes assist in minimizing snoring.
Tonsils can often act as the obstruction that impairs are the most common cause of sleep apnea in children.
Dr. Wallace is a sleep apnea dentistry specialist based in Beaufort, SC. For more information on treatment options for children with sleep apnea, parents can schedule an appointment by calling (843) 410-0345 today or visiting our contact form.
