You’d Never Guess that Sleeping Disorders Could Make your Child Hyperactive
Much to your belief, sleep disorders in children can make them hyperactive in future. Snoring which is one of the most common symptom of a disturbed sleep is also predicted to lead to hyperactivity in children later.
Researchers from the American Sleep Apnea Association reveal that about 1-3% of children aged between 2 years to 5 suffer from sleep apnea. The researchers assert the need to pay attention to such unfavorable sleeping patterns in children as could lead to severe cardiovascular problems which are related to hyperactivity like – behavior problems and learning or attention problems in the future.
Obstructive sleep apnea or disordered breathing is the most common sleep disorder in children. Some other clues or symptoms of sleep apnea are listed below:
- Regular pauses in breathing
- Snoring
- Mouth breathing rather than nose breathing
- Kicking of the legs while sleeping
- Perspiring heavily in sleep
- Early morning headaches
- Irritability
- Difficulty getting up in the morning
Pediatric specialists like Dr Homsi from the Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center claims that sleep disorders make children hyperactive, deter their learning capabilities and also make them very unproductive in school.
Ronald Chervin, director of the University of Michigan Health System Sleep Disorders Laboratory also asserts that snoring and other symptoms of sleep disorders results in hyperactivity and less attention in children. Additional resources claim that impulsive behavior also becomes more predominant in children who suffer disturbed sleeping patterns.
Sleep disorders like sleep apnea can therefore lead to – hyperactivity, attention/learning disabilities and impulsive behavior in children if not taken care of as early as a child suffers from such unhealthy sleeping patterns and sleepiness during the day.
For instance, a study published in the journal “Sleep” explains that sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness and snoring can be related to hyperactivity and attention problems in kids within a period of 4 years (source).