Snoring in children:  When should You be concerned?

Although snoring most commonly occurs among adults, children can suffer from this issue as well.  Snoring in children can be caused by a number of different factors, some of which may cause intermittent snoring while others can cause long-lasting episodes.  In most cases, a child’s snoring is not usually a cause for concern, especially if it only occurs infrequently.  However, if it becomes chronic or severe, it may be time to think about discussing some snoring solutions with a specialist.

As parents, it’s important to know the causes and consequences as well as the types of snoring that affect children and the treatment solutions available for the problem.  This will enable parents to look out for their child’s health and ensure that they get a better quality of sleep in the process.  Furthermore, recent research has revealed sleep is crucial for proper brain development, learning, maintaining attentiveness, and staying healthy overall. Most of the behavioral issues in children can stem from lack of proper sleep and snoring. Many parents miss out of this invisible cause that leads a myriad of childhood issues that mushroom into other diseases.

Facts about Snoring in Children

So, how common is snoring in children? In the absence of any additional signs or symptoms, snoring affects anywhere from 10% to 12% of all children.  Studies estimate that up to 6% of children who snore have OSA or obstructive sleep apnea.  Additionally, of all children diagnosed with this condition, roughly 70% of them will be diagnosed with primary snoring.  Current studies have shown that snoring occurs in approximately 27% of all children.

Pediatric SDB, or sleep-disordered breathing, is the general terminology sleep-related breathing difficulties.  As in adults, the snoring noise emitted by a child occurs when the soft palate and uvula in the back of their throat vibrates as they breathe while sleeping.  The loudness of their snoring is determined by the amount of air that is passing through, the collapse or relaxation of these tissues, and the vibrations that occur during sleep.  In these cases, you should consider the snoring solutions listed later in this content.

10 Most common Causes of Snoring in Children?

As mentioned above, snoring occurs when air is unable to flow freely through a child’s airway (located at the back of their throat).  There are several factors that can create blockages in a child’s airway and cause them to snore.  The following are the 10 most common causes of snoring in children:

• allergies
• anatomical anomalies (e.g. a deviated septum)
• asthma
• congestion
• contaminated air
• enlarged or swollen adenoids
• enlarged or swollen tonsils
• exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
• obesity
• shortened duration of breastfeeding

Another important risk factor attributed to childhood snoring is OSA.  A child suffering with sleep apnea typically experiences interruptions in their breathing during sleep.  This is often characterized by cessations or gasping in their breathing.  Just like with adult OSA sufferers, the disorder causes most children to snore.  However, not every child that snores have OSA. There might be other issues that can lead to snoring including seasonal allergies, deviated septum or even chronic nasal congestion.

When should You be concerned about Your Child’s Snoring?

The quality of a child’s sleep is essential to the restoration of energy levels that impact their mental and physical well-being.  When loud snoring is associated with interruptions in your child’s breathing and the quality of their sleep, it can become a medical concern and a time to consider one or more snoring solutions to resolve the issue.  If your child doesn’t get a proper amount of sleep at night, there could be several consequences which may include:

• behavioral problems
• feeling tired throughout the day or hyperactivity
• hypertension (high blood pressure)
• learning difficulties and poor school performance
• obesity
• retarded growth

Children suffering with SDB or sleep-disordered breathing tend to snore frequently and exhibit repeated episodes of:

• complete pauses in breathing (apnea)
• lowered frequency of breathing (hypopnea)

Furthermore, parents often witness one or more of the following snoring in children signs or symptoms:

• bedwetting
• below-average weight gain and growth retardation
• bluish skin (especially around the mouth and nose)
• concentration or learning difficulties and poor academic performance
• daytime fatigue or sleepiness
• developmental delays
• a diagnosis of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)
• difficulty breathing or gasping during sleep
• morning headaches
• obesity
• snoring 3 or more nights per week
• speech difficulties

While it’s important to know that these factors are often an indicator of SDB, it doesn’t mean your child is suffering with SDB if they snore.

Snoring Solutions and Treatments

If you suspect that your daughter or son is suffering with SDB, you should consult with an otolaryngologist or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.  In addition to performing a physical exam, they may recommend additional testing to determine the cause of your child’s snoring.  The type of treatment for snoring in children depends on the underlying cause and may include the following snoring solutions:

• adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy
• allergy or sinus treatments
• CPAP therapy
• lifestyle changes and weight loss
• surgery to correct a deviated septum

Additionally, you can use a plethora of non-invasive anti-snoring remedies including chin straps and nasal strips to help the child breathe better. It is important to get the snoring issues evaluated so that the root cause of the issues is treated aptly. Although most methods to treat snoring in children is non-invasive, sometimes you might need to get the physical issues treated surgically- such as abnormally sized adenoids or tonsils or a deviated septum.

For chronic or frequent snoring issues, Asonor Anti-snoring Spray and Solution may alleviate your child’s snoring episodes.  Just keep in mind that this product should only be administered under adult supervision for children younger than 18 years of age.

For more information about our product, call us today and our business representatives will be happy to assist you.