Does Your Child Snore? What That Hum Might Mean More than You Think
You might find it charming or amusing if you have ever slipped into your child’s room at night to hear a soft rumble. Snoring is not just a harmless quirk. It can be a sign of something more serious, such as paediatric apnoea. This condition can affect learning, health, and behavior.
Professor Sarah Blunden is a paediatric sleep expert with the Sleep Health Foundation and the founder of the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep. She can help parents understand this issue that’s often misunderstood. Prof. Blunden explains the condition and why it is important. She also explains how to recognize it.
1. What is Sleep Apnoea Syndrome?
Sleep apnoea is a condition in which the upper respiratory tract collapses during sleep and blocks air flow to the lungs. The pauses, called apnoea, can last anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute. They disrupt oxygen supply and cause micro-awakenings. Snoring occurs when airflow is blocked and excessive effort is made to breathe.
Prof. Blunden says that snoring can be an indication of a problem with the upper airway. It vibrates when the body pushes through air in a narrow passage. (researchgate.net).
Even in children, snoring can be a warning sign of an airway compromise.
2. What is the Real Impact of Childhood Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnoea affects more than just noisy breathing. It can also hurt a child’s daytime development, health, and emotions. It can be categorized into three areas:
A. Physiological Effects
Children’s bodies can be damaged by interrupted breathing and poor-quality sleep:
- Lower oxygen levels can cause stress to the cardiovascular system.
- A fragmented sleep increases the risk of gaining weight, as fatigue can disrupt hormones that regulate appetite.
- More infections or metabolic problems, such as insulin resistance, may result from frequent immune system stress. (uchicagomedicine.org)
B. Neurocognitive Consequences
Sleep is essential for the brain development of a child:
- Sleeping every night helps consolidate memory and enhances learning. The sleep-sensitive prefrontal cortex is responsible for these functions.
Some studies have shown IQ deficiencies in children who suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. Event-related potential studies even indicate that brain activation patterns are altered in OSA (obstructive sleep apnoea).
C. Behavioural and Emotional Outcomes
The following can have a daytime impact:
- Reduced concentration and performance at school
- Irritability, impulsivity, inattention, or hyperactivity–sometimes misdiagnosed as ADHD
- Chronic fatigue or mood swings are all symptoms of an underdeveloped brain.
3. How Common Is It?
Understanding the prevalence of a disease helps us determine how vigilant we should be.
- 1-5 % of American children between the ages of 2-8 are affected by OSA.
- Other global studies report a prevalence ranging from 4 to 11%, depending on the region
- Only about 1.5-2 % have sleep apneaeven though 15 % snore often.
While snoring may be common in children, most do not suffer from apnoea. Snoring is still a cause for concern, especially if combined with other signs.
4. The Key Signs of Watching for
Prof. Blunden points out that children with sleep apnoea can exhibit:
- Sporadic gasping and choking in the night
- Night awakenings or restless sleep
- Morning fatigue despite having been in bed for a long time
- Hyperactivity, hypersomnia, hyperactivity during the day, and learning difficulties
If your child snores and shows several of these symptoms–particularly behavioural or attention issues–it may be more than a phase.
5. Why Snoring Happens Often in Young Kids
There is a developmental explanation for why so many toddlers sleep:
- The tonsils, adenoids, and their proportions are often larger. This can narrow the airway in the throat.
- The jaw and throat structures are still growing, making occasional snoring common between ages 2-4 (scholar.google.com, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
This “developmental” snoring is normal. When snoring becomes louder, more frequent, or accompanied by daytime symptoms, alarm bells need to go off.
6. How Sleep Apnoea is Diagnosed
Parents usually begin by bringing up concerns to their doctor, who may:
- Ask for a Sleep History. Discuss symptoms.
- Check tonsils, adenoids, and nasal passages with examination
- Perform a sleep study (polysomnogram), the gold-standard test to measure breathing, oxygen,n nd brain activity during sleep
The use of screening tools (e.g, the BEARS or Fairest questionnaires can be used to guide whether a complete study is required
7. Treatment Options Tailored to the Child
A. Adenotonsillectomy – Most Common Solution
In 80 to 85% of cases, tonsils and adenoids are surgically removed. Prof. Blunden warns that, even though it’s a common procedure, you should still consider the risks
B. CPAP and BiPAP
Machines Continuous negative airway pressure (CPAP) devices are an alternative to surgery, particularly for children with Down syndrome and complex apnea. They maintain airflow, but are uncomfortable for children and can have variable results.
C. Other Treatments
Alternatives may include:
- Nasal Sprays or Allergy Medication for Rhinitis
- Sinus surgery to treat chronic blockages
- Orthodontic jaw adjustment in older children. Other causes of enlarged tonsils can be addressed by these options.
8. Why Early Diagnosis is Important
Early detection of problems is key to preventing them from becoming long-term.
- Neurocognitive risk: Delayed or incomplete brain development can affect IQ and learning–studies show structural brain changes in kids with untreated OSA
- Behavioural Correction: Untreated apnea may mimic ADHD symptoms. Once sleep quality is restored, these symptoms can improve.
- Health Protection: Sleep disruption in children can lead to obesity, hypertension, and immune stress.
9. What Parents Can Do Now
Parents can begin to make changes even before they see a doctor:
A. Log Sleep Patterns
Keep a detailed journal of:
- Snoring frequency and volume
- Sleep disturbances
- Morning fatigue
- Daytime mood/behavioural changes
This can help doctors determine apnea risks.
B. Improve Sleep Hygiene
Breathing disorders can be reduced by following these practices:
- Establish a regular sleep-wake schedule
- Dark, quiet,iet quietol rooms are the best.
- Limit screen time before bed (1 hour prior)
C. Promote Healthy Habits
Simple changes can reduce the severity of apnea:
- Weight management: How to maintain a healthy body weight
- Allergies should be addressed immediately
- Secondhand smoke: Avoid it!
- Encourage regular physical activity
D. Advocate for Evaluative Assessment
You can discuss sleep apnoea with your doctor or even a paediatrician. Early detection (even through a questionnaire) can result in timely intervention.
10. What the Research Tells Us About the Road Ahead
The long-term effects of paediatric sleep disorders and the treatment innovations continue to be studied.
- IQ and brain structure impact: MRI scans in children aged 7-11 show significant gray matter reduction in regions tied to memory, attention, and impulse control (uchicagomedicine.org).
- Behavioural Improvements Post-Surgery: Some studies report substantial improvements in attention, academic performance, and emotional control following adenotonsillectomy.
- Uncovering Objective Biomarkers Event-related Potential Tests (ERPs help quantify the act of apnea on brain function.
Experts like Prof. Blunden also emphasize the need to raise awareness among parents and GPs, as symptoms are often underreported–sometimes as low as 8% disclosure.
Don’t Ignore Snoring
Here’s a recap of why snoring should be taken seriously:
- Snoring can be a sign of airway obstruction.
- Long-term health effects include neurocognitive delays, behavioral issues, a nd metabolic risks.
- Although the prevalence of is high, many children are still undiagnosed because they do not report their symptoms.
- Sleep Study (diagnosis) Unlocks a tailored treatment – from surgery to CPAP or other fixes.
- Early intervention improves concentration, mood, and physical health faster.
Checklist to Help Parents Take Action: For Sleepyheads Who Are Concerned
Step
1. Create a Sleep Journal. Record any relevant symptoms during the day and night.
2. Improve Sleep hygiene: Regular routines and calm environments
3. Healthy Habits: Weight control, balanced diet, allergy management
4. Share your sleep diary with your GP. Discuss any breathing or snoring concerns.
5. Consider a Sleep Study. A polysomnogram might be required for diagnosis
6. Discuss Treatment Option: Surgery or CPAP? Dental or nasal interventions?
7. Monitor Progress: Track symptom reduction–snoring, attention, mood, growth
8. Get support: Consult with educators, therapists, and pediatric sleep professionals
9. Follow-up: Apnoea changes as the child grows — stay vigilant
10. Make Sleep Health a Priority: Your child’s peaceful sleep should be a family priority.
Sarah Blunden’s Final Word
Prof. Blunden says that snoring can be an indicator of a problem in the upper airway. It’s a cry for help. It’s worth checking if your child snores. This is especially true if there are gasps, pauses, or behavioural changes.
“I have had families tell me: We thought he was just a noisy sleeper. But after we treated sleep apnea, everything changed–moods and learning, even the growth.”
Break the silence about children’s snoring. Champion early action and give your kids the gift of restorative, healthy sleep.
