What’s all the fuss about snoring in Children?
It’s normal for children to snore when they are tired isn’t it? The answer to that is actually – NO! Too often we assume snoring to be the social norm for tired people (big and small) however research has shown that snoring may be more detrimental to our health then we know it. Whilst everyone knows what snoring is, it’s also important to know that heavy, audible breathing also falls under the same category as snoring and is just as bad!
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What does Snoring mean?
Snoring, or heavy breathing whilst sleeping, is that deep annoying sound that one makes when their airway is blocked. Blocked airway? Yes! That’s right – snoring is due to you or your child not being to breathe properly when sleeping. The simple fact is that if you don’t breathe well when sleeping – you or your child may not be getting a proper night’s rest. We all know how important sleep is! It’s imperative for health and development and this is even more important in our children.
Children can suffer from numerous sleep conditions that severely affect their development. The problems caused by the sleep issues can manifest in permanent problems later on in adulthood that are very difficult/ impossible to correct. This is why problems are best diagnosed and treated when young.
Common symptoms of sleep issues in Children:
- Snoring
- Grinding/clenching teeth
- Heavy/noisy breathing
- Sleep apnoea (pauses in breathing)
- Gasping for air when sleeping
- Difficulty falling/staying asleep
- Falling asleep too easily (under a fewminutes)
- Irritable during the day
- Hyperactive and fiddly during the day
- Poor concentration and tiredness
- Sleeping with the bum up
- Talking in sleep
- Sleepwalking
- Night terrors/nightmares
Snoring Treatment options for Kids:
We recommend booking in your children with us so that we can do a Dental & Airway assessment. From there, we may recommend a few options:
The first port of call is to consult a paediatric ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat specialist) or an Oral Myology clinic. ENT experts will check for obstructions in your child’s airway and ears whilst Oral Myology clinics will check your child’s breathing and muscles. Examination may include a scope (flexible camera through the nose), Imaging (e.g x-rays/CT scans), Physical examinations, and sleep studies.
Depending on what is wrong, treatment options include Surgery (best done when young so they recover well), muscle exercises, breathing exercises or medications such as Nasonex.
Even after treatment, the child usually has to relearn how to breathe properly through the nose. This is why it is better to treat early because a habit is easier to unlearn when you are younger.
