Parents and pediatricians need to be hyper vigilante for signs of snoring and mouth breathing in children. A large body of medical evidence is showing that children are especially sensitive to the effects of sleep apnea.
Childhood sleep apnea can lead to poor school performance, bed wetting, slowed growth, anxiety and depression. Between 25-50% of children with ADHD have sleep apnea! Children with moderate sleep apnea have higher blood pressures when asleep and this can carry over into adulthood.
Telltale signs of sleep apnea in children are snoring and gasping during sleep, teeth grinding, mouth breathing, bed wetting and difficulty getting up in the morning. Mouth breathing due to chronically enlarged tonsils and adenoids in children leads to adults that are much more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea for the remainder of their lives.
Growing children are generally not candidates for oral snoring/sleep apnea appliances, but we would be happy to answer your questions and help you seek the professional care that can change a child’s life. Call Fresno Snoring and Sleep Therapy at 559-449-7667 if you have any questions.