Sleep Apnea In Children

Parents know that a poor night’s sleep can lead to a rough day for their kids. And sleep apnea can make it worse. This condition occurs when patients repeatedly stop breathing while they sleep. It can make sleep challenging for children.

For children with sleep apnea, lower oxygen levels can impact vital organs like the heart, lungs and brain. Over the long term, sleep apnea can cause growth and developmental delays and negatively impact behavioral health. In severe cases, if left untreated, children with sleep apnea can develop heart complications and cognitive issues. They can also face a higher risk of diabetes over their lifetime.

“Sleep apnea is an underrecognized condition in children, but it is very important to diagnose,” said Maneka Kaul, MD, a family medicine and sleep medicine expert with Franciscan Physician Network in Munster.

Learn what sleep apnea looks like in children and how parents can support their kids with sleep apnea.

Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea In Children

For children, like adults, snoring is the most common symptom of sleep apnea. But you may also notice choking, coughing, or heavy or mouth breathing while your child sleeps. And if you watch closely, you might see your child stop or pause their breathing.

You may also notice differences in behavior with your child as well, notes Salim Semaan Abou-Jaoude, MD, a Lafayette, Ind., pulmonologist with Franciscan Physician Network.

"Children with sleep apnea presents with hyperactivity, symptoms that are very similar to ADHD, rather than in adults where they present with sleepiness, tiredness, falling asleep easily, car accidents, and other conditions," he said, "and children present with hyperactivity." 

Researchers have associated sleep apnea in children with other nighttime issues, including bedwetting (especially after age 5 or 6), sleep terrors and night sweats.

Your child with sleep apnea may tire during the day and even dose off. On the other hand, many children with sleep apnea become hyperactive, irritable or cranky. Either way, the condition may cause your child to perform poorly in school.

“If you notice symptoms, parents should bring up concerns with your child’s pediatrician during well-child visits,” said Dr. Kaul.

Sleep Apnea In Children Is Different Than In Adults

In kids, sleep apnea results from issues with the tonsils or adenoids. As air enters the opening behind the tongue, these structures, when enlarged or swollen, can block the airway making breathing difficult.

“The treatment for children is usually the tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy because we try to avoid having them do CPAP at very early age and not to burden them with that at that point," Dr Abou-Jaoude said.

Some other conditions that can contribute to sleep apnea again include obesity, hypothyroidism, acromegaly and congenital disorders.

In adults, being overweight or obese most commonly causes sleep apnea. That’s because obesity makes muscles softer, blocking the airway and throat.

Diagnosing And Treating Sleep Apnea In Children

Sleep apnea impacts up to 4 percent of kids. Doctors often diagnose children with sleep apnea when their tonsils are the largest, around ages 3 to 5. However, if a child is obese, they may also develop sleep apnea when they are older.

Physicians diagnose sleep apnea in children using a sleep study. During the study, performed in a sleep lab, the child sleeps while the care team captures breath, oxygen levels, muscle activity and other statistics to watch for gaps in breathing.

Sleep apnea usually does not get better on its own unless it’s extremely mild.

“If it disrupts a child’s sleep, it usually needs treatment,” said Dr. Kaul. 

Since the most common cause of sleep apnea in children is the tonsils, working with ear, nose and throat specialists, your child’s physician may recommend removing them. If the tonsils are not the problem, your child’s physician might suggest a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This system includes wearing a mask to help your child breathe continuously at night. On the other hand, if obesity is the root cause of your child’s sleep apnea, weight loss can improve your child’s ability to sleep at night. 

How Parents Can Support Children With Sleep Apnea

One of the ways parents can keep their children healthy and strong is by helping them get a good night’s sleep. For children with sleep apnea, supporting them through treatment, including procedures to remove their tonsils or helping them get used to the CPAP machine, can help them get back on track.

For many people with sleep apnea, sleeping while using a CPAP machine can feel awkward.

“It’s not natural for kids,” said Dr. Kaul. “They may need their parents’ help to get used to the mask, teach them why they need it and be with them for the first few nights they start using it.”

Don’t let your child miss out on a good night’s sleep. Franciscan Health offers a variety of options to keep your child sleeping well. Speak with a health professional to learn more about how to treat your child’s sleep apnea.