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.