Childhood Sleep Disorders Go Undiagnosed

Did you know that 20% to 50% of children and adolescents may have a sleep disorder?  Sleep disorders such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome and sleep related breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, can be hard to catch in this age group so they often go undiagnosed.    These disorders can present themselves differently in the younger population, but can still have adverse health effects.

Unlike adults whose chief complaint in lack of quality sleep is fatigue and snoring, children’s daytime symptoms can present as ADHD and ADD, hyperactivity, behavioral issues and irritability and poor school performance.  Some indicators of a possibility of a lack of quality sleep and possible obstructive sleep apnea in children are a mouth hanging open and tongue out all the time.  Also, a runny nose, muffled voice and bags under the eyes can be an indicator.  Some dental indictors are “pitting” in the molars from acid erosion, gingivitis in the front teeth due to mouth breathing and huge tonsils.

The new American Academy of Pediatrics guideline recommends that children who snore be tested for obstructive sleep apnea.  The guideline recommends in-lab polysomnography for children with labored breathing during sleep, daytime learning problems and disturbed sleep with frequent snorts, pauses or gasps. Children should be screened as part of their routine physicals. 

If you know a child who has these symptoms and has not been treated, it is best to speak with your child’s pediatrician or dentist for a referral to an ENT (otolaryngologist) who can help to diagnose and treat this condition.