If your child snores lightly or occasionally, it’s probably not a cause for concern. However, frequent or heavy snoring may indicate that your child has more serious sleep issues that need addressing.
Why Do Children Snore?
Just like with adults, there can be many reasons why children snore. Some causes require no additional treatment, while others are issues that need to be addressed by a medical provider.
Common causes can include:
- Congestion
- Allergies
- Asthma
- A deviated septum
- Low air quality
- Large or swollen tonsils and adenoids
- Obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep Apnea in Children
One of the more serious causes of snoring in children is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is marked by gaps in breathing that may last for 30 seconds or more while your child sleeps. Treating sleep apnea is essential to improving your child’s sleep quality as well as preventing additional health complications.
Signs Your Child Snores
If your child snores three or more nights a week, they should be evaluated by a specialist to determine the cause. However, you might not know if your child snores or if there are gaps in their breathing since you likely aren’t monitoring their sleep every night.
Daytime behaviors might be your first indication that your child’s snoring is interfering with their health. Signs may include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Increased irritability
- Daydreams or zoning out while awake
- Difficulty waking up in the morning, even if they got plenty of sleep
- Struggling to focus or pay attention in school
- Lack of desire to play with their friends at Paddock Park
- Complaining of frequent morning headaches
Treatment Options for Pediatric Snoring
Treatment options depend on the cause of snoring. Overgrown tonsils and adenoids are one of the more common causes of snoring in children. If this is causing sleep-disordered breathing or OSA, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove both and improve airflow.
Research has shown that most children with OSA can be treated successfully with adenotonsillectomy. However, some children are at risk for post-operative complications and may require intensive care after the procedure. Your doctor will assess your child’s unique needs and health factors to determine if surgery is appropriate.
Other treatment options include using positive airway pressure devices such as a CPAP or BiPAP to prevent gaps in breathing during sleep.
To learn more about treating your child’s snoring, contact Pinnacle ENT Associates today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.