A Sound Sleeper Now

Armani Velez of Allentown, Pa., receives treatment for sleep apnea

Little Armani had slept poorly since his premature birth. “His snoring was so loud we could hear him downstairs,” says his mother, Yazmin Velez of Allentown. At age 2, Armani had a sleep test and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Doctors removed his tonsils as early as possible, and the results were immediate: He slept without making a peep. “It was like magic,” his mother says.

Though Armani’s case was more severe than most, obstructive sleep apnea is a common childhood disorder affecting 2-4 percent of American children, says pediatric pulmonologist Dharmesh Suratwala, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Health Network. “When children don’t sleep well for any reason, it can affect their growth, attention span, mood and school performance,” Suratwala says. “Obstructive sleep apnea left untreated can have a significant long-term impact on heart function.”

The condition usually is caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids blocking the child’s airway. Your child may be at higher risk if others in the family have a sleep disorder. Obesity also raises a child’s risk.

Diagnosis involves overnight monitoring in a sleep laboratory. Most children with obstructive sleep apnea have outpatient surgery to remove their tonsils and adenoids, sometimes followed by a repeat sleep study to make sure the surgery was effective. Some children need further therapy with a pressure-ventilation device during sleep.

“Poor sleep habits don’t always signal sleep apnea; they can be signs of other conditions,” says Matthew Saltz, M.D., a pediatrician with the health network. Snoring and heavy breathing may be due to asthma or allergies. Children with restless leg syndrome (a strong urge to move the legs) sleep poorly, causing daytime fatigue, moodiness and even hyperactivity. And newborns often have acid reflux that keeps them from sleeping well.

If you suspect your child is not getting the benefit of a good night’s rest or midday nap, call your pediatrician. Children’s sleep is vital to their well-being.

This page last updated 5/4/10 04:43 PM