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Sleep Apnea In Children May Produce Notably Lower IQ Scores

Although we have known for a considerable time now that children who suffer from sleep apnea often turn in low scores on IQ tests (by and large scoring around 85 as opposed to a score of 101 without sleep apnea) what has not been known until recently is that this results from chemical changes taking place in the brain. This means that an otherwise 'clever' child could well produce a middle of the road performance as a result of nothing more than a sleep disorder which can be relatively simply treated in most instances.

In a study conducted at the Hopkin's Children's Centre in Baltimore a total of 31 children between the ages of 6 and 16 (19 of whom suffered from severe sleep apnea) were examined with a special form or magnetic resonance imaging and it was found that the children suffering from sleep apnea showed considerable alterations in both the right frontal cortex and hippocampus - two areas of the brain which are associated with learning and higher mental function. This same study also found that these children had abnormal levels of three chemicals in the brain which is a sign of brain damage.

This alteration of the brain chemistry brought about by the presence of sleep apnea might or might not be permanent and further studies are necessary to see whether this affect is reversible. But, even if this problem can be reversed and the cognitive function and chemistry of the brain can be normalized, children with sleep apnea will show a loss in learning as long as they are suffering from untreated sleep apnea and will certainly not be able to wind back the clock and recover this learning time.

Naturally parents should already be on the lookout for indications of sleep apnea in their children but this latest study clearly indicates that the early diagnosis of this sleep disorder could have a very important affect on your child's success in life.

The signs of sleep apnea could include recurrent pauses in breathing while sleeping which frequently cause an arousal from sleep as well as both tossing and turning. Children could also show loud or labored breathing, coughing, snoring, gasping and, occasionally, bedwetting at a time when this phase ought normally to have passed. Parents could additionally note that a child is sleeping in an odd position, possibly with their bottom sticking up in the air and their head tilted back in an unconscious effort to force open their airway.

In the majority of instances childhood sleep apnea may be treated by the surgical removal of both the adenoids and tonsils or of excess tissue from the rear of the throat or from the nose. Additionally, a continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machine may also be used to provide the child with air that is delivered through a mask worn while sleeping to keep the airway open.

Sleep apnea is in itself debilitating for any child and the affects of a lengthy period of inadequate sleep will take a toll on your child. But, when you mix this with a reduction in a child's IQ, it is extremely important that you act as fast as possible to have this condition diagnosed and then treated.

Article Source: http://blisspublisher.com

Help-Me-To-Sleep.com provides extensive information and advice on a whole range of sleep disorders including sleep apnia and obstructive sleep apnea in a child

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