If your child snores, you may think it is exhaustion. In some cases, however, snoring can indicate the presence of a sleep disorder that can affect your child.
What Makes a Child Snore?
The following are some of the most common causes of snoring in children:
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
- A cold or another form of temporary nasal congestion
- Throat infections
- Allergies
- Asthma
- GERD (gastroenterological reflux disease)
- Deviated septum- a curved or crooked wall of bone and cartilage between the two nasal passages
- Sleep apnea- a chronic sleep disorder that’s usually caused by partially blocked airways
What Are Signs That Could Indicate a Sleep Disorder?
The following signs in your child may suggest seeing a sleep specialist:
- Snoring most nights of the week
- Loud snoring
- Sleeping with mouth open and chin or neck extended
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Gasps for air while sleeping
- Excessive daytime fatigue
- Sweating heavily at night
What are the Side Effects from your Child Snoring?
If your child’s snoring occurs as a result of sleep apnea, he or she can experience the following effects:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Concentration or attention issues
- Behavioral and social problems
- Difficulty to wake up
- Headaches especially in the morning
- Irritability and aggression
- Breathing through his or her mouth
- Speaking with a nasal voice
How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Sleep apnea can be diagnosed with a sleep study. The test is used to record data including your child’s heart rate, breathing, and movements so a sleep specialist can examine what happens as your child sleeps and confirm or rule out a diagnosis of sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Sleep apnea in children is often caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and surgery can be performed to remove them. Surgery can also be performed to correct a deviated septum.
In cases where a structural abnormality isn’t causing your child’s sleep apnea, a non-invasive form of treatment may be able to help relieve the condition.
If you are concerned about your child’s snoring, please contact eos sleep to set up an appointment. Our board-certified sleep specialists can provide the most effective treatment to improve your child’s sleep and overall health.