Posted: August 5, 2022
It seems that attention and focus related disorders are constantly increasing. One of the potential contributors to this trend is dysfunctional sleep, specifically sleep breathing disorders (SBD). These growing concerns are even more critical for young people who are still developing. Sleep breathing disorder can affect children in several ways but also have various potential options for treatment.
Childhood Sleep Breathing Disorder
Childhood sleep breathing disorder (SBD) is a condition that can affect children's airways while they sleep. As a result, these disruptions can create abnormal breathing patterns during sleep. Some of the potential causes of breathing disruption are a compromised airway or an underdeveloped jaw.
SBD Symptoms
How does sleep breathing disorder affect children? Some of the most common symptoms that identify a sleep breathing disorder include:
- Mouth breathing
- Poor sleep
- Bags under the eyes
- Enlarged or infected tonsils
- Excess vertical facial development
- Forward head posture
Sleep breathing disorders can also affect children’s temperament and behavior. Adults might be able to first recognize potential sleep breathing conditions by observing many of the same symptoms normally attributed to attention disorders such as:
- Depression
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit
- Poor grades
- Behavioral issues
An accurate diagnosis is crucial to successful treatment. For example, the difference between treating an ailing child for ADHD and treating them for sleep-disordered breathing is vastly different.
Early Diagnosis and Intervention
An underdeveloped jaw or a compromised airway can lead to children suffering from a wide array of symptoms including SBD, fatigue, and attention deficit. Early diagnosis and intervention can mitigate the long-term effects of these symptoms and help ensure children develop successfully. The best way to properly assess potential sleep breathing disorders is to schedule an evaluation.
Contact Evolution Dental Today
If you live in Calgary, Northwest Calgary, Cochrane or other nearby areas of Alberta and would like to learn more about your sleep apnea treatment options, you can call Evolution Dental today at 403-768-2433 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kendra Schick.
*all procedures performed at our practice by a general dentist
