All About Pediatric Sleep Apnea

Pediatric sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder occurring when the breathing of the child is completely or partially obstructed during sleep. This happens when the upper airway is blocked while the child is sleeping. Adult sleep apnea is different from pediatric sleep apnea. Adults generally suffer from sleepiness during the day. Children suffer from behavioral issues. Where obesity is the number one cause for adults, it is enlarged tonsils and adenoids for children. The condition must be diagnosed and treated early to help prevent issues impacting the behavior, cognitive development and growth of the child.

The most common symptoms of pediatric sleep apnea when the child is sleeping often include:

• Snoring
• Choking, coughing and snorting
• Wetting the bed
• Restless sleep
• Breathing through the mouth
• Breathing pauses
• Sleep terrors

It is important to note that infants with this condition often have disturbed sleep as opposed to snoring. The most common signs during the day may include:

• A poor performance in school
• Learning issues
• Hyperactivity
• Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
• Behavioral issues
• Not enough weight gain

If your child frequently awakens feeling tired and is experiencing behavioral issues, you should contact a professional. Although the most common cause of pediatric sleep apnea is enlarged adenoids and tonsils, obesity, neuromuscular disorders and craniofacial anomalies can also be contributing factors. The other risk factors include:

• Facial or skull abnormalities
• Sickle cell disease
• Down syndrome
• A low birth weight
• A family history of this condition
• Cerebral palsy
• Neuromuscular disease

Treatment for Pediatric Sleep Apnea

There are several options for treating pediatric sleep apnea. The treatment recommended by the professional will depend on a number of factors. Popular treatments at our office include oral appliances, avoiding allergens, and positive airway pressure therapy. Oral appliances including mouthpieces and dental devices change the position of the tongue and bottom jaw to keep the airway open.

If you have a child with pediatric sleep apnea, please don’t hesitate to schedule a personal consultation for them at Ashburn Children’s Dentistry, located in Ashburn, VA. We would be more than happy to evaluate your kid’s case and come up with a treatment plan for them. Our team understands that treatment for pediatric sleep apnea is not one-size-fits-all, so we have a number of treatments available. Contact us today to book an appointment.