Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
My child snores: is it obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
If you have observed your child snoring, you are not alone. Research findings indicate that 20% of healthy children snore occasionally and up to 10% snore on most nights. Most children that snore do not have any health related complications. However approximately 1% of children snore because of breathing-related sleep problems called obstructive sleep apnea.
What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Children who struggle to breathe during sleep may have OSA. Simply described, OSA is when breathing is intermittently blocked during sleep.
Is my child's snoring a problem?
For many snoring is not dangerous. When snoring occurs and does not have any adverse impact, it is referred to as primary snoring.
In addition to snoring, children with OSA may have difficulty sleeping at night and behavioral problems during the day. Studies tell us that all children with OSA snore at night. However, not all children that snore have OSA. It is not possible to know for certain whether your child has OSA without consulting a medical professional.
Warning Signs of OSA:
- Snores loudly and frequently
- Stops breathing for short periods
- Sweats heavily during sleep
- Daytime behavioral problems
- Restless sleep
- Headaches in the morning
- Irritable mood or aggressive behavior
- Poor academic functioning
- Excessive daytime sleepiness; fall asleep in school
- Sleep in abnormal position
- Difficulty with concentration
Why do children with OSA stop breathing?
During sleep your child's muscles are much more relaxed. In children with OSA the throat muscles may relax too much and interfere with breathing. In other children the relaxation of the throat muscles is normal, but an airway that is narrower than normal allows the throat to close. In these cases, when your child tries to breathe they are met with resistance caused by the structures in their airway. You may hear your child gasping for air when this happens. Anything that makes the throat more narrow or floppy can increase the chances of your child having OSA (e.g., enlarged tonsils and adenoids; abnormality in facial or jaw structures).
How do I know for sure if my child has OSA?
The only way to know for certain if your child has OSA is to have a formal evaluation by a sleep specialist. The evaluation may involve observation of your child's sleep for at least one night in a laboratory using a test called polysomnography (PSG). Using PSG is the only way to determine if your child has OSA or primary snoring.
Can OSA be treated?
There are a number of treatment options that should be discussed with your sleep specialist depending on the cause of the obstruction. Treatment options include:
- Surgery (e.g., removing tonsils and adenoids; reconstructive surgery)
- Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a small mask worn over the nose that provides pressure to keep the airway open during sleep
- Lifestyle modification such as weight loss through exercise, diet and behavior change
Contact us
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
Written 10/04; Rev. 08/06
