Sleep Apnea

There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common than central sleep apnea. Oftentimes, children who have obstructive sleep apnea will also develop central sleep apnea.

A potentially dangerous sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a child repeatedly stops breathing while sleeping. The breathing stops because the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway while he or she is asleep. The child will usually stop breathing for about 10 to 20 seconds at a time. This pattern can repeat itself many times per hour all night long, causing sleep fragmentation or changes in the blood oxygen or carbon dioxide levels.

Central sleep apnea occurs when a child’s brain does not send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. This condition may also occur as a result of another condition such as heart failure or stroke.

The most notable symptom of obstructive sleep apnea is frequent loud snoring that disturbs a child’s sleep or the sleep of others. Other symptoms of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating
Suddenly awakening from sleep and being out of breath
Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
Awakening with a headache
Mood changes, including depression or irritability, poor attention and learning problems

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

Doctors at Riley at IU Health use a combination of tests to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, including:

Physical exam. Your child’s doctor will check the back of your child’s throat, mouth and nose for extra tissue or any abnormalities.
Polysomnography. During this sleep study, equipment will monitor your child’s heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, limb movements and blood oxygen levels during sleep. A polysomnography can help your child’s doctor adjust positive airway pressure therapy if needed and also rule out any other sleep disorders your child may have.

Treatments

Children with obstructive sleep apnea may benefit from a surgical procedure such as tonsil and adenoid removal. Children who have already had surgery or are not surgical candidates may be treated with a device that keeps the airway open during sleep or with a mouthpiece that thrusts the jaw forward during sleep. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is one such device that is used to treat sleep apnea. There are some other lifestyle modifications that may be used to treat mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea, including:

Losing weight, if overweight
Treating nasal congestion
Avoiding sleeping on your back

If your child has pure central sleep apnea, he or she will likely need to be seen by a pediatric pulmonologist or sleep medicine specialist. Treatment for this condition may include treating existing conditions, using a device to assist breathing during sleep, using supplemental oxygen or taking medicines that have been shown to improve breathing in individuals with central sleep apnea. Surgery is generally not used to treat central sleep apnea.

Key Points to Remember

There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common than central sleep apnea.
Your child’s doctor may recommend surgery for obstructive sleep apnea; central sleep apnea is generally not treated with surgery.
Mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle modifications such as losing weight and treating nasal congestion.

Support Services & Resources

Check out these trusted websites for more information and support for sleep apnea.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery

Read more about the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea from this trusted professional organization.

Sleep Apnea Research

The Ear, Nose & Throat Department at Riley at IU Health is currently conducting research on sleep apnea in children. Ask your child's doctor for more information about this research, including any opportunities to participate in a clinical study or trial.