Healthy sleep is necessary for normal growth, development, cognition and overall good physical health.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, depriving your body and brain of oxygen. It has largely gone unrecognized in children and can contribute to growth problems, failure to thrive, ADHD and more. It has been reported that specific cognitive deficits and high hyperactivity scores at 6 years of age are most strongly associated with a pattern of short sleep duration at 2.5 years of age, which suggests that insufficient sleep during the first years of life may have long-standing consequences.
When diagnosed early, treatment focuses on growth-oriented orthodontics to increase airway space. Treatment modalities may include jaw expansion and advancement of the upper and/or lower jaws. Moreover, additional treatment such as adenotonsillectomy, allergy correction, myofunctional therapy and tongue-tie release, may be required.
Does your child suffer from OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA) or SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING (SDB)?
Daytime symptoms:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- ADHD-like behaviors
- Mouth breathing
- Inattention and/or behavioral problems
- Hyponasal speech
- School problems
- Hyperactivity
Night/Sleep Symptoms:
- Snoring
- Gasping and/or pauses in breathing
- Sleeping in unusual positions (ie. head extended)
- Nighttime sweating
- Restless sleep, night terrors, or sleep walking
- Enuresis (bed-wetting)
- Bruxism (grinding teeth)
If you would like more information on airway-focused and functional orthodontics, please contact the office at (808) 738-5500 to schedule a consultation. You can also find more information here Parent Resources – ASAP Pathway , where Dr. Tan is a member of ASAP (Airway, Sleep & Pediatrics Pathway).