| When your child with Down Syndrome sleeps is his | | | | some of the common ones:Snoring or noisy breathing |
| head bent back in an odd position? Is he waking | | | | ( okay, that's the obvious one), strange sleeping |
| frequently during the night, or is he a restless | | | | positions (for example with the neck |
| sleeper? Do you notice a lot of mouth breathing | | | | hyper-extended), restless sleep, frequent waking at |
| during the day, and at night? Read this for important | | | | night, mouth breathing, behavioral problems, weight |
| information concerning Down Syndrome and Sleep | | | | loss or not gaining weight at the expected rate. |
| Apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs in over 50% | | | | How is Obstructive Sleep Apnea diagnosed? Your |
| of people with Down Syndrome. It has been | | | | ear, nose and throat doctor will likely recommend a |
| recommended by U.S. researchers that all children | | | | test called a polysomnography. A polysomnography is |
| with Down Syndrome be tested by the time they | | | | usually done on an overnight basis. Your child will be |
| are three or four years of age. | | | | carefully monitored while he or she sleeps. |
| In children with heart problems, a common condition | | | | Treatments for OSATreatments for OSA include: |
| in Down Syndrome, the decreased oxygen levels in | | | | removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids, getting |
| the blood caused by OSA can cause some serious | | | | allergies under control, or the use of CPAP. |
| complications. Therefore it is important to get it | | | | In his article about OSA in children with Down |
| checked out if you notice any of the signs of OSA. | | | | Syndrome Dr. Len Leshin,MD,FAAP recommends that |
| In children with Down Syndrome OSA can be caused | | | | the removal of tonsils and adenoids should not be |
| by a number of factors: low tone, flat facial profile | | | | day surgery. A child with Down Syndrome will usually |
| and the typical facial structure often seen in people | | | | have a longer recovery period and he or she will also |
| with Down Syndrome, enlarged tonsils and/or | | | | have longer periods of decreased oxygenation so this |
| adenoids, allergies and stuffy noses, the small mouth | | | | child should be watched for a bit longer than a child |
| and seemingly large tongue. | | | | who does not have Down Syndrome. |
| The symptoms of OSA vary but here are listed | | | | |