Sleep Apnea in Children

How to Improve Sleep Apnea in Children

Obesity, large tonsils or adenoids, a narrow upper airway, may trigger obstructive sleep apnea in children.

I remember a three-year-old Ann's mom, Angela, who was full of anxiety about her child.

She said that every night Ann slept, the child would stop breathing from time to time. Just as Angela thought Ann would never take another breath, Ann would snore and snort and resume breathing again.

There are parents who don't realize that their child has a sleep disorder. They should learn about sleep disorders in children to avoid complications and save his life.

It's so funny when my child snores...said another mother.

Snoring is the most obvious symptom of obstructive sleep apnea in children. So, if you hear your child snoring, don't laugh but be careful at his sleep. Heavy snoring with loud snorting is a sign of severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Here is an example of sleep apnea in children:

What Causes Sleep Apnea in Infants, Toddlers and Children?

This video also speaks about the causes of sleep apnea in children:

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Children?

• noisy breathing and mouth breathing


• brief period of no breathing


• restless sleep, including turning and tossing


• sleeping in odd positions


• irritability, frustration, hyperactivity and aggresivity


• difficulty paying attention


• daytime sleepiness and lethargy at obese children


• poor performance at school, such as poor concentration, behavioral problems and lack of learning.


• bed-wetting


• morning headache


• cardiovascular problems, such as abnormalities or arrhythmia

This unexplained death may appear at healthy babies, too. Click here to learn more about this syndrome.

A sleep apnea symptom, such as behavioral problems and poor concentration, can affect a child for the rest of his life. Therefore, you should act immediately in treating sleep apnea, if your child has this disorder.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Children

Some of the sleep apnea symptoms differ in children and adults with sleep apnea. The children with sleep apnea are hyperactive or aggressive. They are not necessarily sleepy as adults with sleep apnea.

Treating Sleep Apnea in Children

Because most obstructive apnea in children are caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids, the most frequent treatment is simply to removethem. The operation - tonsillectomy - has some risk but is fairly routine.

However, at least 30 percent of children who have tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy will still have sleep apnea and need further treatment.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is another treatment for children whose obstructive sleep apnea is not or cannot be resolved by tonsillectomy.

CPAP can be successful in a child with sleep apnea if he is able to understand how the mask and equipment work and when the parents are cooperative.

People who read about Sleep Apnea in Children also read about:

• Sleep apnea pillow


• New treatments for sleep apnea


• Alternative cures for sleep apnea

Here's some interesting pages for you to see:

• Down Syndrome - a risk for sleep disordered breathing

• Apnea Syndrome and Drowsy Driving

• Epworth Sleepiness Scale

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