While the health risks associated with snoring and sleep apnea in adults are well documented, the health risks involved with children who snore are now better understood. Studies on sleep-disordered breathing in children suggest that 8-12% of children aged 2 to 8 have some form of habitual snoring. About 2-3.5% of children have obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder where a child stops breathing while they sleep. Even if your child does not suffer from sleep apnea, snoring may be a sign that he or she could have another underlying issue:
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome
(UARS) is when a child has difficulty breathing due to smaller than normal airway passages, causing him or her to wake up during sleep.
Hypoventilation
When a child is not getting enough air into their lungs but does not wake up during sleep.
Primary Snoring
When a child snores and lacks any of the usual signs of sleep-disordered breathing.
For children, sleep disordered breathing is usually present when a child has enlarged tonsils. Due to the rise of childhood obesity, pediatricians are reporting more cases of obstructive sleep apnea in children whose symptoms mimic adults with sleep apnea.
What are the signs of obstructive sleep apnea in children?
While snoring is the most common sign, parents of children with sleep apnea have reported other signs and problems. Though considered normal, children with sleep apnea move frequently while sleeping, and may grind their teeth. They may also find themselves sweating too much or breathing too loud. Bed wetting (enuresis) is common in children with sleep apnea, and often is fixed when sleep apnea is treated. Other problems may arise in children with any type of sleep-disordered breathing:
Mouth breathing
Sleepwalking
Night terrors
Hyperactivity
Poor attention span
Decreased appetite
Stunted growth
Aggressiveness
Poor temperament
Learning difficulties
What are the risks of untreated sleep apnea in children?
Recent studies suggest that snoring may be more serious than previously thought. Untreated sleep apnea in children can disrupt the the natural growth of the human body. Parents of children with sleep-disordered breathing often report poor school performance, both in grades and behavior. Heart disease is also an issue for children with sleep apnea. Since a child’s body does not get enough oxygen during sleep if they have apnea, the heart and blood vessels do not develop as they normally should.
How is sleep apnea in children treated?
Usually, children with sleep-disordered breathing find relief after having their tonsils and adenoids removed. This gives the throat more room to let air through to the lungs. If children continue to snore after surgery, there are a number of options available to parents:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy: Children are given a machine that pumps air through their nose and mouth into the lungs during sleep. While very effective, children must be taught how to sleep with the machine and some children never learn how to tolerate it. CPAP therapy in a growing child can also affect facial growth.
Orthodontic therapy: Children wear orthodontic devices which correct tongue posture and align the upper and lower jaws. This can aid proper airway and facial growth.
Sleep appliance therapy: Children wear custom-made oral appliances which prevent the tongue and throat from closing the airway during sleep.
Here at the Minnesota Craniofacial Center, we can help your child breathe better. If your child snores or has been diagnosed with a sleep breathing disorder, your doctor may first suggest to have your child’s tonsils and adenoids evaluated by a specialist. If breathing issues persist, we can provide them with oral appliances or orthodontic treatment as needed to help them develop properly and sleep better. We can also provide or recommend adjunctive treatment measures, such as myofunctional therapy to address mouth breathing and proper swallowing and tongue function. Allergy treatment can also be important.
How do I find out if my child has sleep apnea?
Contact your pediatrician or family doctor if you think your child has any difficulty breathing during sleep. It is only after a thorough review of your child’s sleep quality and general health that a proper diagnosis be given. Your doctor may order a sleep study for your child to determine if he or she is having difficulty breathing at night.
For further information, Dr. Ledermann gave an interview with SleepBetter.TV on pediatric sleep apnea:
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L.S.
“I am at the beginning of my treatment for TMJ. I just got my mouth piece yesterday and can already feel a difference. I have been in so much pain for so long and the staff here have been so caring and understanding!! Dr. Hakala, his assistant and Genevieve were AMAZING with listening to me and getting all of my questions answered. They also answered all my questions and explained things to me in a way that was very easy to follow and understand! I would highly recommend this clinic to anyone!!! Thanks so much for such wonderful care!!!”
Katie K.
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N.E.
“Thorough eval and exam. Easy to understand explanations. Thank you!”
C.F.
“These wonderful people have absolutely changed my life. For years I could not open my mouth without pain. Now just a few months after my first visit I am pain free and feeling the best I ever have. Dr. Hakala is very experienced and diagnosed my problem quickly. I drive 550 miles for my appointments and every mile is worth it.”
Mikaela R.
“Thorough and very informative. Respectful and caring staff. Listened to my concerns.”
R.D
“When I first came to see Dr. Ledermann for my TMJ disorder I was in constant pain. I had constant headaches and neck pain. I couldn't sleep and had developed searing nerve pain in my face that felt like fire. I was miserable and desperate. I could hardly eat and had lost a lot of weight. I had seen several specialists and spent a lot of money on oral devices but unfortunately my condition continued to get worse. I was not optimistic that anyone would be able to help me.
Dr. Ledermann and her team of professionals were the first people who took the time to explain to me what was physically happening to my jaw. They took my pain seriously and responded compassionately. My experience at Minnesota Craniofacial has been nothing short of life changing. I have had several years of pain free life now. I am able to eat the things I love without pain! I can open my mouth to sing again! I'm not sure where I would be without this amazing team of people. I can only describe them as genuinely caring, passionate and knowledgeable. The improvement was beyond anything I had ever hoped. They have given me the tools, support and education necessary to manage my condition and lead a pain free life. I am so grateful for everything they have done to help me. ”
A.R.
“Excellent care! Very informative and explained in detail. ”
K.H
“The very best of service!”
R.U.
“I had been heavily snoring for a while, keeping my wife awake at times. I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and a CPAP machine was recommended. The sleep doctor did indicate that a mouthpiece device was an alternative. I did not want to be hooked up to a CPAP machine that would feel like being in the intensive care unit for the rest of my life. I contacted the Minnesota Craniofacial Center to see if I was a candidate for the sleep apnea mouthpiece device.
Their office is wonderful and they employ very welcoming staff who are highly competent at their work. They use the latest technology to evaluate patients and to design a device that will work for the patient. I felt very comfortable and confident with the care I received.
It took a few nights to get used to the device, but my snoring was resolved and the apnea events eliminated.......thanks to Drs. Ledermann and Hakala and their wonderful assistants. It has gotten to the point now that using the device is just part of my normal bedtime routine. Unlike some dentists that offer a sleep device as just a part of their routine dental practice, Dr. Ledermann and Hakala specialize in the evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders and TMJ. They are experts in their field and I would highly recommend the Minnesota Craniofacial Center if you have a snoring problem and/or sleep apnea as I did.
I have relief at last....thanks to the MN Craniofacial Center.”
J.C.
“More than adequate time was spent on helping me understanding my situation. ”
P.A.
“Customer service was great. Doctor was extremely knowledgeable. Very satisfied and feel fortunate to have found such a compassionate doctor.”
K.O.
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