Two recent studies show serious concern for infants and children with
breathing problems during sleep. The first study, conducted by the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), found that one year
olds with sleep apnea or slow heart rate during sleep scored lower on mental
development tests than other one year olds. The second study, funded primarily
by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), found that
five-year-old children who had frequent snoring, loud or noisy breathing
during sleep, or sleep apneas scored lower on intelligence, memory, and other
standard cognitive tests than other children their age. They were also more
likely to have behavioral problems.
Carl E. Hunt, M.D. director of the NIH National Center on Sleep Disorders
Research (NCSDR) notes that brain development is not complete until at least
late childhood leaving children vulnerable to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)
symptoms and their consequences, especially if such symptoms begin during
infancy or early childhood. "Brain areas, such as the prefrontal cortex,
which regulate executive function, might be particularly susceptible to damage
from SDB", writes Hunt.
What does this mean for parents of infants and children whose breathing during
sleep is compromised by congestion, snoring or apnea? Daniel Gottlieb, M.D.,
M.P.H., lead author of the second study warned, "Parents need to be aware
that their child's snoring could signal serious problems." Hunt urges
parents and pediatricians to look out for breathing problems in their babies
and young children. "If we can identify these children before the effects
on mental development have occurred, the challenge then will be to identify
possible ways to intervene and prevent any reduced potential for doing their
best in school."
In NSF's 2004 Sleep In America poll, one in ten parent/caregivers said their
children had trouble breathing and loud or heavy breathing while sleeping at
least a few nights a week. The poll also revealed that 16% of the respondents
noted their children snoring a few nights a week. Read the results of the poll
and read more about sleep
problems in children. Get your kids involved by visiting sleepforkids.org
today!