» Signs That a Child is Suffering From Sleep Apnea

Signs That a Child is Suffering From Sleep Apnea

By admin 04/02/2019
Does your child seem drowsy during the day? Does he or she snore or wake up breathless in the middle of the night? They could have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – a chronic condition where breathing stops periodically during sleep because soft tissue is relaxing and obstructing the airway. These periodic stops can happen as many as 20-30 times in an hour and cause a lack of oxygen to the brain, waking up your child so that they restart proper breathing. All that waking up can leave one pretty sleepy the next day – even if they don’t remember waking up!

Untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can affect school work and overall alertness as well as raise your child’s risk of serious health problems down the road. These include:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic acid reflux
- Obesity
- and even Depression
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology (ENTs) sleep disordered breathing affects approximately 12 percent of children.

Luckily, sleep apnea is easily treatable. It just needs to be diagnosed. That’s where you come in: if your child has any of the following symptoms, bring them to see us for a free consultation including a 3D iCAT Scan at Eckels Orthodontics.

Here’s what to look for:
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping (tossing and turning or night sweats)
- Loud snoring at night
- Waking up at night short of breath
- Long pauses in breathing
- Chronic mouth breathing during sleep
- Snorting or choking sounds during the night (indicating a restart of breathing)
- Extreme drowsiness throughout the day
- Changes in mood, misbehaviour or decline in school performance
- Hyperactivity or inattention (in some cases children who are diagnosed with ADHD are actually not hyperactive but rather are showing the clinical symptoms of OSA.
Orthodontists are leading specialists in spotting Sleep Apnea early because of our familiarity and expertise in working with the soft tissue in children’s mouths. As both an Orthodontist and parent, Dr. Scott Eckels makes a point of asking all parents if they’ve noticed any of these symptoms when he first consults with new patients. (He makes sure Dr. Golnaz Kavand always asks too!)

Additionally, Eckels Orthodontics the only practice in the area to use an iCAT 3D scanner at every single consultation.

If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, bring them in for a free consultation. We can help spot the issue and guide you towards a treatment plan to make sure your kids are sleeping soundly!

While Sleep Apnea can have very serious side effects, it’s very easily treatable. The most important thing you can do is pay attention and have your child evaluated.

Click below to schedule a complimentary consultation and 3D scan with us. We can’t wait to meet you and your kiddo! No pressure. Just answers!

At Eckels Orthodontics we strive to provide the highest quality orthodontic treatment but also ensure Incredible customer service and make you feel like you’re at home while you’re visiting us. We’re the friendliest, most fun orthodontic office around AND we’re the only office in the area to have the distinction of being an Invisalign Diamond Provider – that means we’ve treated thousands of cases and have the experience to treat even the toughest orthodontic issues with Invisalign. You can’t go wrong with Dr. Scott Eckels and Dr. Golnaz Kavand.

2010 Garfield Ave., Suite 1

Parkersburg, WV 26101

401 Colegate Dr.

Marietta, OH 45750

314 Claylick Rd

Ripley, WV 25271
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- 2010 Garfield Ave., Suite 1
- Parkersburg, WV 26101
- P | (304) 699-0720
- 401 Colegate Dr.
- Marietta, OH 45750
- P | (740) 538-0446
- 314 Claylick Road
- Ripley, WV 25271
- P | (304) 916-7708

Signs That a Child is Suffering From Sleep Apnea

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