What Are Symptoms of Pediatric Sleep Disorders?

Sometimes it can take kids a little while to settle down before bed, but if it seems like a child is having a lot of trouble, it could be a sleep disorder. Many children have occasional nights of restlessness or poor sleep; this is normal and is not cause for concern. However, if these behaviors continue over several nights, it may signal an underlying cause. Symptoms of pediatric sleep disorders include:

– Snoring
– Teeth grinding
– Mouth breathing
– Restlessness during sleep
– Sleeping in odd positions
– Periods of not breathing
– Night terrors
– Recurrent ear infections
– Night sweats
– Mood changes
– Poor concentration
– Bed wetting
– Headaches
– Frequent infections
– Problems in school
– Disruptive behavior

A doctor who specializes in sleep is known as a sleep specialist; they can come from a variety of medical backgrounds, including internal medicine, pediatric medicine, family medicine, neurology, and dentistry.

Five types of pediatric sleep disorders include:

– Sleep Apnea — Approximately four percent of children between the ages of 2 to 8 have sleep apnea. There are two types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which is the most common type and occurs when the upper airway gets blocked; and Central Sleep Apnea, a neurological condition where the brain stops signaling breathing during sleep.

– Parasomnias — Parasomnias are undesirable or abnormal movements during sleep-wake transitions, such as sleepwalking (somnambulism) or sleep talking (somniloquy). Other common types of parasomnia include: nightmares; confused arousal; and sleep terrors or night terrors.

– Childhood Insomnia — Childhood insomnia is typically diagnosed when a child has trouble falling or staying asleep and wakes up too early. It may be due to poor sleeping habits, stress or anxiety, but is also associated with certain behavioral disorders, like autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.

– Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome — Delayed phase sleep syndrome is a chronic disorder common in teens and is characterized by going to sleep two or more hours after the normal sleep time. It affects their body clock and makes it difficult to wake up the next day, leading to an undesirable sleep cycle that is difficult to break.

– Restless Leg Syndrome — Restless leg syndrome, is a sleep disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move or kick the legs repeatedly when trying to sleep. Research has proven that RLS is linked with low levels of iron; if the iron deficiency is addressed, RLS is likely to improve or go away completely.

Sleep is one of the most important bodily functions; without it, our bodies would fail to work as they should. If a child does not get enough quality sleep each night, it can lead to a myriad of problems, including:

– Delayed development
– Impaired intelligence
– Dysfunction of the nervous system
– Memory loss and depression
– Weight gain and obesity

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in children; it can result in behavioral issues related to:

– Decreased performance and learning problems in school
– Hyperactivity
– Aggressiveness
– Social isolation, withdrawal

If your child is having problems sleeping due to sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing, the team at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders can work with their physician to help obtain diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan. Call us today to book an appointment with our pediatric sleep providers, or visit one of our seven locations: We serve patients from all across the United States and look forward to serving you!