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| Cole Williams |
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The Good News: Treatment Can Bring 'Dramatic' Improvement in Kids
by Jessica Pupillo
Sleep apnea could be standing between your child and a peaceful, restful night's sleep. The snoring, gasping, and middle-of-the-night thrashing that afflicts millions of adults also affects an estimated 1 percent of kids, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Left untreated, childhood sleep apnea can cause symptoms similar to attention deficit disorder, including poor concentration and hyperactivity, said Scott Hardeman, M.D., an otolaryngologist (ENT) with Midwest Head and Neck Surgery. "Kids will also show daytime fatigue, and, more concerning, ongoing sleep apnea can cause heart and lung problems," he said.
Obstructive sleep apnea usually occurs in children with enlarged adenoids and tonsils, which are located in the throat, Hardeman said. When the muscles of the throat relax during sleep, the child's airway can become blocked. The obstruction wakes the sleeper,
interrupting the sleep cycle and resulting in poor sleep quality. In contrast to adults, sleep apnea in kids is usually not related to weight, Hardeman said.
"If your child snores or tosses and turns all night, talk to your pediatrician or another physician with specialized training in treating sleep apnea, such as an ENT or pulmonologist," Hardeman said.
Sleep apnea can usually be diagnosed based on a medical examination and a medical history, he said. Often physicians order sleep studies for more information on how the child is sleeping.
"Unlike adults where it's very challenging to deal with, in kids with no major health risks, the solution is removing the tonsils and adenoids," Hardeman said. "Most of the time, that corrects the problem and can be done as an out-patient procedure."
In fact, a study published in February by St. Louis University School of Medicine researchers found that this procedure provides "dramatic relief" for 80 to 90 percent of children with sleep apnea.
Quinn Williams of South City has seen an enormous change in her son since having his tonsils and adenoids removed in November. By the time her son, Cole, was 2, he still wasn't sleeping through the night.
"He would sleep very restlessly," Williams said. "Tossing and turning, he was up and down, up and down, and crying in the middle of the night." Cole also snored and frequently talked in his sleep, Williams said.
A sleep study determined that Cole stopped breathing nine times a night for 10 seconds each time, Williams said. He clearly had sleep apnea.
"It’s really scary to know he stopped breathing," Williams said. "And Cole had a mild case."
Not only was Cole having trouble sleeping, he was also struggling during the day, Williams said. Williams had trouble getting her son to calm down and described his behavior as erratic.
Since having his tonsils and adenoids removed, Cole, now 3, is sleeping soundly and is happier during the day, Williams reports.
While he's still an active preschooler, Williams can have a calm conversation with him - something that rarely happened when Cole was tossing and turning rather than sleeping through the night.
"More importantly, by treating his sleep apnea, Cole is getting the restful sleep required by his body," Hardeman said. "A good night's sleep is not only critical for healthy brain and physical development, but is also important to a child's emotional well-being and cognitive ability."
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