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