Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Indications in Children

Health & Fitness

  • Author Ken Edwards
  • Published November 13, 2010
  • Word count 537

Sleep apnea symptoms in children are sometimes hard to recognize. Sleep apnea condition is typical in adult men however females and children could also have it. Kids as young as age 3 can have sleep apnea.

A growing kid can experience various physical as well as behavioral adjustments, and this is normal. One thing you will notice in a few children with sleep apnea is that they snore. Approximately 3-12% of children commonly snore. But, snoring is usually the number one sleep apnea symptom. In mild sleep apnea, it is confusing to find out if your kid's heavy snoring is normal or maybe a sign. What you should do is to observe the other indications of this sleep problem.

The child might have sleep apnea symptoms if the snoring is accompanied by pauses in breathing. It is then accompanied by snorts or gasps for air. This is known to be an apnea attack. It is also a type of sleep apnea referred to as obstructive sleep apnea. From the word ‘obstructive’, it means that there's a blockage in the child’s airways. This obstruction keeps air from going into the lungs. The pauses in breathing transpire whenever air ceases going into the lungs. The snorts take place if the kid attempts to recover his or her breath and gasps for air. Breathing from the mouth throughout sleep is another common indication.

What can cause all these obstructions?

Sleep apnea symptoms may differ according to cause. If your child is actually weighty, fatty tissues in the throat region narrows the airways. If your little one is underweight, it could be other reasons such as big tonsils or abnormal face structure. Some kids are born with small jaws or airways. Certain obstructions may be due to nasal abnormalities like a deviated septum. Having large tonsils and adenoids taken out by means of operation can help. Surgery is a typical remedy for the majority of children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Enduring the consequences of sleep deprivation

In worst cases, these apnea attacks could happen more than just a hundred times a single night. Picture your child fighting subconsciously to breathe every evening while sleeping. These apnea episodes prevent your child from enjoying sufficient sleep quality.

Poor sleep quality slows a child’s development. They are not just sleep deprived but also life deprived. Sleep apnea symptoms exhibit children that are extremely sleepy each day and have difficulty focusing. For this reason, they have a tendency to do badly in school. In terms of their behaviour, they are usually moody, unusually active or hostile and experiences depressive disorder. For older kids, signs include bed wetting, excessive perspiration and night terrors.

Being able to help your child sleep tight

The good news here is that sleep apnea has a cure. If you find any of these signs and symptoms, bring your child to the physician as soon as possible. Once the medical doctor confirms the symptoms, you may be referred to a sleep specialist. A pediatric sleep doctor will suggest treatments. Getting your child diagnosed for sleep apnea will improve your child’s behavior. It will likewise enhance your child’s efficiency in school. Overall, it will grant your kid a better life.

Ken has a background in owning and running a small business focused IT service firm. His passion is to help others that suffer from sleep disorders, including sleep apnea which he also suffers from. He provides free information about sleep clinics at: http://sleepapnearevealed.com/sleep-clinic. His website Sleep Apnea Revealed (http://sleepapnearevealed.com) has tons of information about sleep apnea.

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