Treating Children for Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Sleep-disordered breathing in children may appears to be such a mild problem that a parent might misidentify it as simple restlessness or bad dreams. In fact, it’s much more serious than that. 

Sleep-disordered breathing deprives a child of restful sleep and drives their blood oxygen down. It may be identified by chronic breathing through the mouth, snoring, restlessness or choking and coughing during sleep. The effects of this disturbance may show up as bedwetting, night terrors, learning difficulties, behavioral problems or poor weight gain. 

Children as young as two have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a particular form of sleep-disordered breathing. The importance of treating this problem cannot be overstated.