Is your child tired or nervous?

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Do you snore? Having trouble sleeping? Wake up tired? You are not alone! Nearly 39 million men and women in the United States have sleep apnea. But this is not just a problem for adults. Up to five percent of children also suffer from sleep apnea – even babies can have it. But just like adults, children with sleep apnea are often undiagnosed or even misdiagnosed.

Is your baby getting enough sleep? Infants need at least 14 hours of sleep, toddlers 11 to 14 hours, and preschoolers 10 to 13. If your child is in elementary or middle school, they should get between nine and 10 hours of sleep, and teenagers should aim for eight to 10. hours. If your baby isn’t getting enough zzz’s, sleep apnea may be to blame.

Eric Viorritto, MD, a pediatric neurologist, said, “We know this from research. We know that children with obstructive sleep apnea are three to five times more likely to have poor academic performance and seven times more likely to have behavioral problems in school.”

But it is often misdiagnosed.

Viorrito said, “Sleep apnea, especially in our school-age children, can look just like ADHD.”

A report from the American Sleep Apnea Association states that up to 25% of children diagnosed with ADHD may actually have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

Adam Rappaport. MD, a pediatric neurologist at Nemours Children’s Health, explained, “The longer a disease goes untreated, the more severe its symptoms can become.”

Obstructive sleep apnea causes snoring, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, mimicking many of the symptoms of ADHD. But if sleep apnea is left untreated, it increases the risk of heart disease.

Viorritto said, “Someone who would be 27, 28 years old and now struggling with health problems that could have been prevented, you know, that’s a real tragedy.”

That’s why knowing the difference can make all the difference.

The most important thing is that most children do not snore. So if they do this regularly, parents should talk to their pediatrician. A correct diagnosis will include an overnight sleep study.

Doctors say the first line of treatment for children is often to remove the tonsils and adenoids.