Important: This post is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. You should always consult your physician before making any medical decisions for your child.
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is estimated to affect between 1-5% of children and can often result in tiredness during the day, difficulty concentrating, and other disruptive symptoms.
OSAS is more common and implies that difficulty breathing during sleep is due to blocked airways. However, children can also suffer from central sleep apnea (CSA), which means they involuntarily and intermittently pause breathing during sleep.
In this blog post, we’ll take you through a child sleep disorder quiz guided by the professional insights of respected sleep specialist Dr. Saema Tahir, MD. You’ll also learn how sleep apnea in babies and children can affect their daily routines and mood.
Key signs of sleep apnea in children
As a sleep disorder, sleep apnea can be challenging to diagnose in both adults and children. Since you can’t watch over your child every night as they sleep, most symptoms to watch out for manifest during the day.
That’s what can make sleep apnea difficult to pin down; we may notice the symptoms but put them down to congestion, asthma, or other breathing-related issues. Around 17.8% of adults suspect they may have sleep apnea, but what are the key signs to look out for in your children?
The “Does My Child Have Sleep Apnea?” Quiz
As concierge pediatricians in NYC, we help parents navigate sleep issues in their children regularly. But to provide you with the most specific and helpful information possible, we’ve collaborated with sleep specialist Dr. Saema Tahir, MD.
Keep in mind, the signs in this child sleep disorder quiz alone aren’t enough to confirm or rule out a sleep apnea diagnosis. They may be symptoms of another issue, or could be normal depending on your child. As always, consult your child’s pediatrician if you suspect sleep apnea.
Below, you’ll find the top 5 questions Dr. Tahir recommends you ask yourself to help you decide if it’s worth seeking support for possible sleep apnea in your child. We’ll break these down into the symptoms to look out for, and share additional details to help you and your little one.
1. Nighttime breathing issues
Ask yourself:
“Does my child snore, grunt, gasp, or pause breathing during sleep?”
Specialists detect sleep apnea in babies and children by observing their breathing patterns.
If you can record your child sleeping or spend some time with them after they lay their head down for the night, listen to the quality of their breathing. Once they’re asleep, if their breathing seems strained or punctuated by gasps, grunts, or pauses, it may be worth investigating sleep apnea or respiratory issues further.
On top of breathing issues, here are a few other signs to watch out for as your child sleeps:
- Kicking or twitching their arms and legs
- Grinding their teeth while asleep
- Waking up multiple times during the night
2. High levels of activity
Ask yourself:
“Is my child hyperactive or impulsive?”
Many parents look at nighttime symptoms primarily when exploring the possibility of sleep apnea in their children. But it can have a significant effect on daytime functioning, too. The first daytime sign to watch out for is their activity levels.
If your child is naturally high-energy, it may not be an issue at all. But if they show regular signs of hyperactivity, impulsivity, or frequent tiredness, you can see this as a cluster of signs that could point to a condition like sleep apnea.
Here are some key signs to look out for in terms of your child’s activity levels:
- Poor decision-making
- Mood swings or irritability
- Excessive energy in the evenings
- Difficulty sitting still or keeping attention on tasks
3. Memory, concentration, and learning difficulties
Ask yourself:
“Does my child have trouble remembering, focusing, or learning new things?”
Sleep apnea can have a profound effect on daily cognitive function. For example, it’s common for people with sleep apnea to struggle with frequent lapses in concentration or losing their train of thought.
Sleep plays a pivotal role in healthy cognitive function, and sleep deprivation can significantly impair attention and working memory.
If you notice that your child is struggling with any of the following, it might be worth further exploring the possibility of sleep apnea:
- Staying focused in class at school
- Poor academic performance
- Forgetfulness during the day
4. Difficulty with directions or participation
Ask yourself:
“Does my child have trouble following directions and participating in activities?”
Children with sleep apnea may struggle with executive function skills, meaning they have issues with things like planning and staying organized. This can make it harder for them to focus and participate in everyday activities.
Due to a loss of sleep at night, children with sleep apnea have a hard time staying on task and following directions. For example, they may struggle more than you feel is normal with classroom activities or homework assignments.
Here are some signs to pay attention to:
- Trouble following classroom instructions
- Difficulty completing homework or complex projects
- Reluctance to participate in extracurricular activities
- Frequent daydreaming or appearing to “space out”
5. Daytime fatigue and napping
Ask yourself:
“Does my child feel excessively tired throughout the day, or need to nap more than others?”
While adults are usually quick to notice trends in how tired they feel during the day, children may not show such obvious signs of tiredness.
Sometimes you have to look a little harder, as their fatigue symptoms may be far more subtle. It’s easy to mistake tiredness for irritability, lack of focus, or even behavioral challenges, which are often the ways kids express their exhaustion.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Difficulty waking up, even after a full night of sleep
- Falling asleep during car rides or in class
- Needing frequent naps after the age of 5
- Complaining that they don’t have energy
- Unexplained crankiness or mood swings
Tips to help your child sleep well
While you may wish to pursue professional screening to rule out sleep apnea in your child, there are various ways you can support healthy sleep.
Establishing good sleep habits can set your child up for a lifetime of restorative rest, and could potentially clear up issues with concentration and irritability. Here are a few tips to support your child’s sleep quality.
1. Create a consistent bedtime routine
One of the simplest ways to support healthy sleep is to create a consistent bedtime routine. This can look like creating various “trigger” activities that signal to your child’s body that it’s time to wind down for the evening. These routines or activities can help activate their parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and making it easier for them to fall asleep.
We recommend starting your winding-down routine at the same time every night, or as close to the same time as possible. Here are a few “trigger” activities to consider to help signal to your child’s mind and body that it’s time to rest:
- Read a story together
- Listen to calming music
- Brush teeth at the same time each day
- Change into soft clothes that are for sleep only
- Use a calming scent like lavender or chamomile
2. Design a sleep-friendly environment
If you’ve ever found it hard to sleep due to the lighting in the room, general temperature, or other factors, then you’ll know how important it is to have the right conditions to sleep.
The same applies to your child’s bedroom.
Here are some suggestions to help them fall asleep at night:
- Keep the room cool and dark
- Make sure they have a supportive mattress and pillows
- Remove electronics or devices with intrusive lights from the room
3. Cut down on screen time before bed
Screen time can have a major impact on the mind’s ability to truly switch off at nighttime.
By implementing a “screen curfew,” you can limit your child’s exposure to technology and screens in the hours before they need to fall asleep.
Get creative with your evenings and introduce puzzles, books, and other forms of entertainment in the few hours leading up to bedtime.
Next steps: what to do if you suspect sleep apnea
It’s quite common for sleep apnea in babies, children, and even adults to go undiagnosed for a long period of time.
Since most symptoms show up during the daytime, it’s difficult to discern which issues could be related to sleep troubles. The daytime symptoms mentioned above are often misdiagnosed, and as such, many people rule out sleep apnea as the underlying cause.
The only way to truly determine whether your child has sleep apnea is to put them through a thorough sleep evaluation with a sleep specialist. Going through the diagnostic process can give you the reassurance to seek treatment, or rule out the possibility altogether.
Tried the “Does My Child Have Sleep Apnea” Quiz above and still need support?
If your child experiences any of the symptoms outlined in the self-guided child sleep disorder quiz above, especially in clusters, you may want to contact a specialist to determine if sleep apnea is the cause.
Remember, though, that many of these symptoms can be attributed to several other factors ranging from genetics and disposition to other conditions. Your child’s pediatrician is an excellent place to turn to hear their recommended next steps or receive a referral for further assessment.
Want an on-call, board-certified pediatrician you can contact anytime with questions like these? Explore the pediatric concierge membership at Elliston Pediatrics.
As a member, you get around-the-clock access to our team of nurses, staff, and the best pediatricians in NYC for home visits, direct communication, and advanced telehealth appointments. Reach out today to see if our practice is right for your family.
This article was written in collaboration with Dr. Saema Tahir, MD, a respected sleep specialist. For more information on sleep disorders, visit Dr. Tahir’s website.
