What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea, also known as obstructive sleep apnea, is a serious disorder in which there are pauses in breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is generally thought of as a disorder that occurs in adults, but children often experience it. For some children, like Stevie, apnea is serious, and the parents, while aware of the problem, don’t know where to turn for help. In many instances, however, the parents aren’t even aware that their child has sleep apnea and do not seek medical help.

There are a number of symptoms to look for that is common in children with sleep apnea. Some children will have most of these symptoms, whereas others may have only one or two.

• Snoring. Almost all children and adults who have sleep apnea snore. However, it is important to realize that not all children who snore have sleep apnea. Children with sleep apnea usually snore loudly, and most of the time (not just when they have a cold).
• Breathing pauses. Breathing pauses are the hallmark of sleep apnea. Rather than breathing in an even and consistent manner, your child may stop breathing for a few moments and then start breathing again. If you observe this behavior, it is almost certain that your child has sleep apnea.
• Difficulty breathing while sleeping. Rather than observing breathing pauses, you may notice that your child seems to have difficulty breathing while asleep. His breathing may not appear regular and even, or he may be a noisy breather.
• Mouth breathing. Most children with obstructive sleep apnea breathe through their mouths at night and often during the day as well.
• Coughing or choking. If your child frequently starts coughing or choking in his sleep, this may be a sign of a breathing problem.
• Restless sleep. Many children with sleep apnea are rest-less sleepers. Each time they have a breathing pause they will arouse and move.
• Sleeping in unusual positions. Some children with sleep apnea sleep in an unusual position, for example, with their head hanging over the side of the bed or with their head raised on several pillows or on stuffed animals. They do this unconsciously to try to keep their airway open to help them breathe while asleep.
• Sweating. Many children with sleep apnea sweat profusely while they sleep. The reasons for this are unclear, but it may be because the body has to work hard to breathe during sleep.
• Nightmares or sleep terrors. Children with sleep apnea may be more prone to these two sleep problems. The next chapter discusses both nightmares and sleep terrors.
• Night wakings. Frequent night wakings in infants and toddlers are usually related to sleep associations, as discussed in earlier chapters. However, some children’s night wakings are caused by sleep apnea. If your child has other symptoms discussed in this chapter and awakens at night, it is worth considering whether or not your child has sleep apnea. Remember, though, that although his waking may be caused by the sleep apnea, he should be able to fall back to sleep on his own. If he does not, be sure also to consider a sleep association problem.