Although it has been known for some time now that children who suffer from sleep apnea generally display relatively low scores on IQ tests (typically having an average of 85 as opposed to a score of 101 for children who are not suffering from sleep apnea) one thing that we have not known until recently is that this results from chemical changes within the brain. As a result an otherwise clever child may well produce a run of the mill performance because of nothing more than a sleep disorder that, in the majority of cases, can be treated quite simply.
In a study conducted at the Hopkin’s Children’s Centre in Baltimore, 31 children between the ages of 6 and 16 (19 of whom had severe sleep apnea) were examined using a special form or magnetic resonance imager (MRI) and it was noted that the children with sleep apnea showed major changes in both the hippocampus and right frontal cortex which are sections of the brain which are associated with higher mental function and learning.
This study also showed that these children were suffering from altered levels of three brain chemicals which were indicative of brain damage. This alteration of the chemistry of the brain brought about by sleep apnea may or may not be lasting and, at this time, additional studies are needed to see whether this effect can be reversed.
However, even if reversal is possible and the chemistry of the brain and cognitive function can be normalized, kids with sleep apnea are going to suffer 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 recapture this period of learning.
Naturally, parents should already be on the lookout for the signs of sleep apnea in their children and this study clearly demonstrates that early diagnosis and treatment of this sleeping disorder could have a substantial affect on your child’s success in life.
The signs of sleep apnea include frequent pauses in breathing during sleep which frequently result in an arousal from sleep and tossing and turning in bed. Kids may also display labored or loud breathing, snoring, gasping, coughing and, at times, bedwetting at an age when this phase should normally have passed.
Parents can also notice a child sleeping in an odd position, possible with their bottom sticking up in the air and their head tilted back in an unconscious effort to keep their airway clear.
In the majority of cases child sleep apnea can be treated by the surgical removal of the adenoids or tonsils, or by removing excess tissue from the back of the throat or nose. In addition, a continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machine (or pediatric CPAP) can also be employed to provide the child with an airflow delivered through a mask worn during sleep to keep the airway open.
In itself child sleep apnea is debilitating for any kid and the effect of night after night of poor quality sleep are going to take their toll on your child. But, when you combine this with an impairment of your child’s IQ, it becomes imperative that you act as soon as you can to get this condition diagnosed and treated.
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Child Sleep Apnea Can Produce Significantly Lower IQ Scores
Although it has been known for some time now that children who suffer from sleep apnea generally display relatively low scores on IQ tests (typically having an average of 85 as opposed to a score of 101 for children who are not suffering from sleep apnea) one thing that we have not known until recently is that this results from chemical changes within the brain. As a result an otherwise clever child may well produce a run of the mill performance because of nothing more than a sleep disorder that, in the majority of cases, can be treated quite simply.
In a study conducted at the Hopkin’s Children’s Centre in Baltimore, 31 children between the ages of 6 and 16 (19 of whom had severe sleep apnea) were examined using a special form or magnetic resonance imager (MRI) and it was noted that the children with sleep apnea showed major changes in both the hippocampus and right frontal cortex which are sections of the brain which are associated with higher mental function and learning.
This study also showed that these children were suffering from altered levels of three brain chemicals which were indicative of brain damage. This alteration of the chemistry of the brain brought about by sleep apnea may or may not be lasting and, at this time, additional studies are needed to see whether this effect can be reversed.
However, even if reversal is possible and the chemistry of the brain and cognitive function can be normalized, kids with sleep apnea are going to suffer 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 recapture this period of learning.
Naturally, parents should already be on the lookout for the signs of sleep apnea in their children and this study clearly demonstrates that early diagnosis and treatment of this sleeping disorder could have a substantial affect on your child’s success in life.
The signs of sleep apnea include frequent pauses in breathing during sleep which frequently result in an arousal from sleep and tossing and turning in bed. Kids may also display labored or loud breathing, snoring, gasping, coughing and, at times, bedwetting at an age when this phase should normally have passed.
Parents can also notice a child sleeping in an odd position, possible with their bottom sticking up in the air and their head tilted back in an unconscious effort to keep their airway clear.
In the majority of cases child sleep apnea can be treated by the surgical removal of the adenoids or tonsils, or by removing excess tissue from the back of the throat or nose. In addition, a continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machine (or pediatric CPAP) can also be employed to provide the child with an airflow delivered through a mask worn during sleep to keep the airway open.
In itself child sleep apnea is debilitating for any kid and the effect of night after night of poor quality sleep are going to take their toll on your child. But, when you combine this with an impairment of your child’s IQ, it becomes imperative that you act as soon as you can to get this condition diagnosed and treated.
Related posts:
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