August 8, 2007, Meriden, Conn.
A good night’s sleep is essential for the well-being of adults, but it is even more critical for a developing child. The National Institutes of Health recommends that children ages 7-11 get at least nine hours of sleep each night for optimal health and functioning.
Unfortunately, many children do not get the recommended number of hours of sleep each night. A child’s disrupted sleep can be due, in part, to a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, or restless leg syndrome. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that 3% of children aged 2-8 have obstructive sleep apnea.
How do you know if your child is suffering from a sleep disorder? Nancy Keiluhn, RRT, RPSGT, Pediatric Specialist at MidState Medical Center’s Sleep Care center, offers some signs and symptoms to look for in determining if a child is affected by a sleep disorder.
“We call it failure to thrive,” said Keiluhn. This symptom is specific to obstructive sleep apnea because children can actually burn extra calories at night trying to breathe, resulting in improper weight gain.
Children who are underweight or do not seem to be growing may be plagued by disrupted sleep in general. In deep sleep stages, a child’s body secretes special growth hormones that sustain the child’s weight and height. If sleep is disrupted, however, hormone secretion may be decreased and the child may not grow as well.
Another major sign to look for is hyperactivity. Keiluhn emphasizes that “this one question can give you a boat load of information.” While most adults who go without sleep would be sluggish the following day, many children are hyperactive. Consequently, many children who have a sleep disorder could potentially be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
These children may be disruptive in school, inattentive during daily activities, or have mood swings with irritable behavior. A recent study in first grade students found that 18% of the students in the lowest 10% of the class academically had obstructive sleep apnea.. Treatment of the disorder lead to significantly improved school performance and a decrease in hyperactivity.
Children with obstructive sleep apnea may snore with intermittent pauses, gasps, or snorts, stop breathing for brief intervals during sleep, and have restless sleep, sweating, and recurrent bedwetting.
Yet a child doesn’t have to suffer with a sleep disorder. Sleep Care at MidState Medical Center offers a state-of-the-art facility geared towards the special needs of children to help diagnose and treat a potential sleep disorder. If a child has problems sleeping, a nighttime sleep study may be beneficial to help correct the problem.
“It is important that sleep issues in children be discussed. Parents may not bring sleep issues to the attention of their pediatrician feeling their child may grow out of it,” said Keiluhn.
During a sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, a child’s sleep pattern will be recorded, including disrupted breathing, snoring, leg movements, heart rhythm, and oxygen levels. A small video camera in the room will also record what occurs during the night.
The sleep study requires that small sensors, called electrodes, be placed on your child’s head and other areas. For example, electrodes are placed next to each eye to determine dream sleep, on the chest to read heart rate, and on the legs to detect movement. The electrodes, however, are completely painless and easily applied.
While MidState’s Sleep Care center can treat children ages 5 and older, any child under the age of 18 must have a parent accompany them for the nighttime sleep study. Sleeping accommodations are made available to the parent. Our sleep studies take place in a home-like atmosphere to ensure the utmost comfort of the child and parent/guardian.
“Properly diagnosing and treating the disorder can result in the resolution of daytime symptoms,” said Keiluhn. And that can make everyone sleep a little better.
For more information, contact Sleep Care at Midstate, 1-800-SLEEP-RX or visit www.midstatemedical.org.
About MidState
In quarterly patient satisfaction surveys (conducted by an independent, national research company), MidState consistently rates among the top hospitals in Connecticut and the nation. Conveniently located just minutes off Rte. 691 in Meriden, CT, MidState offers free and safe parking, as well as private inpatient rooms. Services include general surgery, emergency medicine, MidState Medical Group Walk-in Center for urgent care needs, and state-of-the-art care in centers dedicated to Cancer Care, Wound and Hyperbaric Care, Family Birthing, Sleep Care, Digestive Health, Pain Management, and Cardiac Care.
For information, call 203 694 8200, or visit www.midstatemedical.org.
To find a MidState Doctor, call: 1 866 MMC 5678
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