What Causes Snoring in Children?

When snoring happens, it’s generally caused by something like allergies, a stuffy nose, oral anatomy, sinus anatomy, the individual’s weight, or even a jaw joint disorder. During sleep, the muscles in the mouth, tongue, and throat relax, and this can exacerbate the aforementioned issues and cause snoring. Generally, the issue is a narrowed or partially blocked airway. Some patients get a sleep study done, which can reveal the underlying cause of their snoring. Other patients are helped by a sleep professional like one of ours here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders.

It’s rare for a child to snore. Sometimes snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a serious condition for children. If your child’s snoring is accompanied by gasps, snorts, or pauses in breathing, then this could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Another sign of sleep apnea is your child seeming sleepy during the daytime.

Health issues like obesity, allergies, asthma, gastroenterological reflux disorder (GERD), or some others can cause snoring. It can be common for swollen or large tonsils to cause snoring/sleep apnea in children, as young kids’ tonsils are rather large compared to the throat and can block or narrow the airway. The National Center for Health Statistics says that over 260,000 American children have tonsillectomies each year due to sleep apnea.

The aforementioned issues should be addressed by a professional. Really, any regular snoring in a child should be addressed professionally. It can be a sign of sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, or another issue, and an issue like sleep apnea can actually cause or contribute to sleep and behavioral problems.

As a parent, you can redefine or influence your child’s lifestyle. Changes like losing weight can help with snoring, but for snoring caused by something like a jaw joint disorder or sleep apnea, a different approach is required. In the case of snoring caused by sleep apnea, CPAP therapy can help, but many children find it uncomfortable, inconvenient, and loud. There is an alternative to CPAP therapy, though, and it’s oral appliance therapy. It can address snoring caused by a jaw joint (TMJ) disorder, too. For many patients, 3 months of oral appliance therapy relieves symptoms by 90%!

Oral appliance therapy is a non-invasive, comfortable, and effective alternative to CPAP, especially for children who struggle with the noise and discomfort of CPAP masks. These custom-made devices gently reposition the jaw to help keep the airway open during sleep. Oral appliance therapy is approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and provided by us at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders. Our sleep specialists are trained to tailor oral appliances to meet your child’s specific needs. This treatment not only helps with snoring but also addresses underlying issues like TMJ disorders or sleep apnea, providing long-term relief. We focus on improving your child’s sleep quality and ensuring their overall health with personalized care.

Snoring in children can be caused by several factors, with the most common being enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which can block the airway during sleep. Other causes include nasal congestion due to allergies or colds, which can also interfere with normal breathing. Additionally, pediatric sleep apnea is a condition where the airway becomes partially or completely blocked, causing interruptions in breathing and loud snoring.

If your child is snoring regularly or showing signs like gasping for air or difficulty sleeping, it’s important to consult with a sleep specialist. At Koala Center for Sleep Disorders, our team can evaluate your child’s symptoms and determine the underlying cause of their snoring. We’ll provide a personalized treatment plan to help improve their sleep quality and overall health, ensuring they get the restful sleep they need for healthy growth and development. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations across the U.S. in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, El Paso TX, and Wausau WI.