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Pediatric Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common breathing disorder found in 2-3% of all children in the United States. It is a very serious condition that can cause delayed growth, heart issues, behavioral problems, and weight gain. As with adults, this sleep-related breathing disorder causes long pauses in breathing as the airway is constricted or blocked. See your pediatric sleep apnea specialist in Los Angeles, CA today!

What to Look For

As a parent, you should monitor your child’s sleeping and breathing behavior. The most obvious sign of sleep apnea is regular loud snoring, often accompanied by gasping and snorting. Other signs that your child may have sleep apnea may include:

  • Restlessness or sleeping in abnormal positions
  • Heavy sweating during sleep
  • Difficulty waking up
  • Falling asleep or daydreaming during the day
  • Waking up with headaches
  • Irritability, aggressiveness, or cranky behavior
  • Nasally voice
  • Mouth breathing

Is It ADHD?

Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea are similar to those of ADHD. These include:

  • Concentration issues
  • Hyperactivity
  • Nervous behavior

Because of the similarity in symptoms between the two, misdiagnosis of ADHD can occur. In children who do have attention deficit hyperactive disorder, OSA can make the symptoms worse.

What Can be Done for My Child?

Because children are still growing, oral appliance therapy is limited. Behavioral changes, including losing weight and avoiding certain medications, and the use of positive airway pressure machines (PAP) may prove more helpful.
Children are also usually good candidates for a tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy that can help treat the problem. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids are one of the primary causes of OSA in children.

If you believe your child may have obstructive sleep apnea, it is important to get help right away. Dr. Louie is a dentist specializing in the treatment of sleep apnea in Los Angeles, CA. If you have any questions or want the best care for your child’s sleep apnea, call our office and make an appointment with us today.