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 | News Danger in the bedroom - Childhood snoring 04 March, 2009 |
Assoc. Prof. Dominic Fitzgerald appeared on Sunrise to warn parents of the dangers of childhood snoring.
"Snoring should be treated to prevent further trouble"
"Research shows up to 1 in 3 kids suffer a sleeping disorder"
This little understood disorder is thought by many to be harmless, even cute, yet it can lead to behavioural difficulties and learning disorders later in the child's life.
Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea. In the past many children had their tonsils removed but this trend is currently unpopular.
There is growing awareness among doctors of a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea, in which airflow is restricted and the sleeper stops breathing and repeatedly wakes up.
Health problems associated with snoring include;
difficulty concentrating,
poor school performance,
hyperactivity and ADHD,
day time tiredness,
breathing through the mouth,
behavioural problems, and
bed wetting.
UniSA Research
In 2002, the University of SA found chronic sleep disorders are a major problem for 35 - 40 per cent of school children over the age of six, a University of South Australia study shows.
Sleep psychologist and researcher Sarah Blunden explains:
“If children after the age of six still wake up a lot at night or need parents to put them to sleep, and it happens on a regular basis, it becomes a sleep disorder that can lead to insufficient sleep and subsequently learning difficulties, poor academic performance, impaired memory and behavioural problems,”Blunden said.
If left untreated, snoring can even lead to a reduced IQ with the most severely affected children left with an IQ deficit of between 15 and 25 points.
Taking out the tonsils is often the best way to treat the condition but there are concerns there are not enough resources to deal with the problem.
Parents are being urged to get persistent snoring checked out.
Government Website for more information on snoring and sleep disorders
Q & A on Sunrise with ENT Surgeon |
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