According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), approximately 69 percent of children 10 and under experience some type of sleep problem.  Studies have linked sleep to our ability to learn, create memories, and solve problems.  Sleep has also been tied to mood. Inadequate sleep and excessive sleepiness can have a profound negative effect on health, school performance and cognitive function and mood.

Some of the most common sleep disorders affecting children are insomnia, restless legs syndrome, sleepwalking, snoring, and sleep apnea.

In 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued guidelines recommending that every child be screened for snoring as part of a regular health exam.  

Contact Us
To learn more, call the Sleep Center at Houston Northwest Medical Center at 281-397-2719. 

Sleep Apnea
Sleep Disorders Linked to ADHD
Snoring
Having Your Child Evaluated for a Sleep Disorder
Sleep Center at Houston Northwest Medical Center

Children and Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea affects 1-3% of children, and more subtle problems with breathing during sleep may affect many others among the 10% or more of all children who snore regularly.  These disorders could have important consequences on daytime cognition, behavior and development.  Therefore, it’s important to discuss warning signs when children visit their doctors.  

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep needs vary from person to person, and they change throughout the lifecycle.

Common Sleep Disorders Linked to ADHD
Youngsters who frequently snore or have sleep disorders are almost twice as likely to suffer from ADHD than those who sleep well.  Inattention and hyperactivity among general pediatric patients are associated with increased daytime sleepiness.  

Research has shown that some people may be misdiagnosed with ADHD when the real problem is a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, insomnia or restless legs syndrome. In many cases, people who have both ADHD and a sleep disorder have shown marked improvement in their symptoms after the sleep problem is treated.

Children and Snoring
According to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 10-12 percent of children snore most nights.  Enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause blockages that make the snoring sound. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, a more severe sleep disorder.  If your child snores regularly or loudly, stops breathing, gasps for breath, or works particularly hard to breathe while sleeping, he may have sleep apnea.  Children with sleep apnea can stop breathing several times or more an hour.

Children with sleep apnea are not able to sleep well with all these disruptions.  The lack of good sleep, or perhaps the lack of enough oxygen during sleep, is suspected to increase risk for daytime learning problems, poor school performance, daytime sleepiness and hyperactivity.

Having Your Child Evaluated For A Sleep Disorder  
If you suspect that your child has a sleep disorder, you may want to consult first with your child's primary care provider (usually a pediatrician or family physician) and share your concerns. You may also choose to consult with an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist or ENT) or a pulmonologist (a specialist in lung problems) who deals with children. 

In most cases, the initial evaluation for children with a suspected sleep disorder includes a complete medical history, a review of any behavioral or developmental problems, a sleep history, and a physical exam.  Blood tests, x-rays, and other specialized tests may be needed in some cases. 

Based on the initial evaluation, your health care provider may suggest an overnight sleep study.  A sleep study or polysomnogram can help to make a proper diagnosis and can help to judge the severity of the problem.

The recording devices used during a sleep study are similar in adults and children.  These generally include an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain waves and an electroculogram (EOG) to measure eye and chin movement, both to monitor the different stages of sleep; an electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure heart rate and rhythm; chest bands to measure breathing movements; and additional monitors to sense oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood as well as monitors to record leg movement.  None of the devices are painful and there are no needles involved, and sometimes the technician can attach the monitoring devices after the child has fallen asleep in the lab.

The Sleep Center at Houston Northwest Medical Center is a 4-bedroom sleep laboratory that performs various polysomnography procedures under the supervision of Board Certified Sleep Specialist for both adults and children.  It is located adjacent to the pediatric patient rooms in order to provide multidisciplinary care for our pediatric sleep patients with access to pediatricians and pediatric nurses. 

The Sleep Center provides accommodations for parents to stay with their child overnight.  For more information, please call 281-397-2719.