Child Sleep Apnea Can Lead To Significantly Lower IQ Scores
Sleep Apnea In Children Can Cause Significantly Lower IQ Scores
Despite the fact that we have known for a long time now that children with sleep apnea generally display relatively low scores on IQ tests (typically getting 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 have not known until recently is that this results from chemical changes within the brain. This means that an otherwise clever child may well turn in a run of the mill performance because of nothing more than a sleep disorder which, in almost all cases, can be treated reasonably simply.
In a study undertaken in Baltimore, 31 children between the ages of 6 and 16 (19 of whom were suffering from severe sleep apnea) were examined with a special type or MRI and it was noted that the children with sleep apnea displayed significant changes in the right frontal cortex and hippocampus which are areas of the brain which are connected with higher mental function and learning.
This study also found that these kids were suffering from altered levels of three chemicals within the brain which indicated brain damage. This change to the brain chemistry brought about by the presence of sleep apnea may or may not be lasting and, at this point, additional studies will be necessary to see if this effect can be reversed.
However, even if reversal is possible and the brain chemistry and cognitive function can be returned to normal, kids with sleep apnea will suffer learning problems as long as they have untreated sleep apnea and certainly cannot rewind time and regain this learning period.
Parents should of course already be looking out for the signs of sleep apnea in their kids and this study clearly shows that early diagnosis and treatment of this sleep disorder may have a very considerable affect on a child’s success in life.
There are a number of signs of sleep apnea including frequent pauses in breathing while sleeping which frequently lead to an arousal from sleep and tossing and turning in bed. Kids can also display labored or loud breathing, snoring, coughing, gasping and, on occasions, bedwetting at a time when should normally have passed.
Parents could also see a child sleeping in an odd position, possible with their bottom sticking up in the air and with their head tilted back in an unconscious effort to keep their airway open.
In very many cases sleep apnea in children can be treated by taking out the adenoids or tonsils, or excess tissue from the back of the throat or nose. Additionally, a continuous positive airways pressure machine can also be used to give the child a flow of air delivered using a mask that is worn during sleep to keep the airway open.
Sleep apnea is in itself incapacitating for any kid and the effect of night after night of poor quality sleep will take their toll on your child. However, when this is combined with an impairment of your child’s IQ, it becomes vital that you act as soon as you can to get this condition professionally diagnosed and treated.