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Pediatric Sleep Testing

(For Children 5 Years and Older)

Does your child exhibit signs of ADHD or hyperactivity?

While adults respond to poor sleep quality or quantity by becoming slow, sluggish, and exhibiting impaired judgement, children become hyperactive. This hyperactivity can worsen their educational outcomes and can closely mimic ADHD and even increase aggressiveness and emotional disregulation. With a sleep study paired with appropriate treatment, your child's attentiveness, grades, and interpersonal relationships can greatly improve.

What are the signs of pediatric OSA?

It is best to act quickly when pediatric sleep apnea is suspected, as it can have significant effects on your child's development and health.

Some associated symptoms include:

  • Snoring

  • Restless sleep

  • Excessive sweating during sleep

  • Night Terrors

  • Developmental delay

  • Excessive hyperactivity and/or aggression

  • Emotional disregulation

  • Failure to thrive

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea means the abrupt cessation of breathing during sleep. This drastically worsens sleep quality, and significantly lowers your child's immediate and long-term health.

 

Sleep apnea comes in two forms: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Central sleep apnea (CSA).

 

OSA can occur due to obesity, the natural shape of your child's mouth and airway, or due to the size of their neck. Essentially, for any of these reasons, your child's airway collapses, causing an obstruction, and thus an inability to breath until your child wakes just enough to forcefully resume breathing. This does not lead to a sound sleep.

 

CSA occurs due to many different neurological causes. For the most part, the brain periodically stops sending the signal to breath to your child's body. Only once your child's CO2 levels increase to unsafe levels, will they wake up slightly and resume breathing.

My child has tested positive for sleep apnea. What are the next steps?

Your child's doctor can work with you to determine the next best steps. Some treatments include:

  • Weight loss if your child is obese or overweight,

  • Removal of tonsils if your child's ENT determines that they are the culprit

    • 75% of children who underwent this procedure had improved sleep quality​

  • CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure)

  • Night-time oral appliances to optimize your child's airway when he or she sleeps

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