HOUSTON – (Aug. 9, 2010) – Texas Children's Hospital says
children who suffer from poor school performance, memory lapses and behavioral problems
may have a relatively common and treatable sleep disorder. Sleep disorders in children
are a fairly new area of treatment; therefore, many pediatricians and parents are
unaware of the signs and symptoms of sleep problems.
A common sleep disorder in children and teens is sleep apnea, in which the airway
is obstructed, resulting in constant interruptions in breathing and sleep. About
10-15 percent of children nationwide have sleep disordered breathing, and 2-3 percent
of children have sleep apnea, which may be cured by removing enlarged tonsils. Symptoms
of sleep apnea include interrupted breathing and snoring. Children with these symptoms
may have school problems, poor memory and hyperactivity.
"Sleep disorders may be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as other problems, such as attention
deficit disorder causing children to act out in ways that resemble hyperactivity
when in fact, they just aren't getting enough sleep," said
Dr. Daniel Glaze, Chief of the
Texas Children's Sleep Center and associate professor of pediatrics
at Baylor College of Medicine. "It is important for parents to be aware of changes
in behavior that can be caused by a sleep disorder so they know when to consult
a sleep specialist."
Many children who seem hyper aren't getting enough sleep and may move around trying
to stay awake, according to Glaze. Teenagers are at risk for sleep apnea, and they
may suffer from a general lack of sleep that can lead to a drop in grades and a
higher risk of auto accidents.
"Teens are notoriously active, balancing school activities, jobs and social lives,"
Glaze said. "They need nine to 10 hours of sleep, but they think they can get by
on as little as 6 hours. However, lack of sleep has a negative impact on anyone."
At the Texas Children's Sleep Center, specialists diagnose sleep disorders by taking
a careful sleep history to identify children who need overnight monitoring in the
sleep laboratory. Monitoring includes recording of brain activity, breathing effort
and airflow, oxygen intake and extremity movement.
"The key to managing sleep problems is awareness," Glaze said. "Once a sleep disorder
is diagnosed, it usually can be managed with medication, lifestyle changes or surgery
in the case of childhood sleep apnea. When sleep is managed properly, both the patient
and the family experience a greatly improved quality of life."
For more information about your child's sleep schedule or sleeping patterns, see
The Texas Children's Sleep Center.
Parents also can prepare for a healthy school year by ensuring
their child has healthy sleeping habits, eats a nutritious breakfast and lunch,
and has a backpack that, when filled, weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of the
child's body weight.
Get more back to school tips.
About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing
the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for
its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas
Children's is ranked in the top 10 best children's hospitals by U.S. News and World
Report. Texas Children's also operates the nation's largest primary pediatric
care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas
Children's has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes
a neurological research institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing
on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. Get the
latest Texas Children's news on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/texaschildrens.
