Five-year-olds who had sleep-related breathing problems such as snoring were more likely to have daytime behaviour problems like hyperactivity, lack of attention, and aggressiveness, according to a study in the October issue of Pediatrics.

Advertisement

Well-controlled study
Researchers from Chicago and Boston evaluated 3 019 children and asked their parents about sleep problems and then behaviour problems during the day.

While previous research has linked snoring and other sleep problems such as apnoea (involuntary breathing pauses during sleep), the beauty of this study is that we controlled for several variables that others did not control for, says Dr Debra Weese-Mayer, a professor of paediatrics at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a study co-author.

Among the factors controlled for, she adds, were gender, race, maternal educational level, and marital status, as well as respiratory health history, all of which could skew the outcomes.

ADHD-link found
Sleep-disordered breathing, which takes into account snoring, apnoea, and other problems, was reported in one-fourth of the children. Then the researchers asked about daytime behaviour.

Compared with children who didn't have snoring or other symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, those with the problems were more likely to have behaviours associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. They were two times more likely to have daytime sleepiness, 2,5 times more likely to have hyperactivity, and two times more likely to be inattentive or aggressive than the children without the nighttime sleep problems.

Parents, paediatricians on the alert
The study shows only an association, not cause-and-effect, between sleep problems and ADHD, Weese-Mayer says. But in the study, the authors conclude that the high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing symptoms suggests they may contribute to the undesirable daytime behaviours.

About five percent of US school-age children have ADHD, according to the American National Institute of Mental Health.

The message for both parents and paediatricians, says Weese-Mayer, is to become more aware of sleep habits.

It is really important to look at the whole child, Weese-Mayer says. When you get behavioural issues in children, sometimes it is easy to forget that there are physiological problems that can exacerbate them.

Babies' sleep should be monitored
Paediatricians should remember to ask about quality of sleep during checkups, she says.

Paediatricians should take into account any daytime behaviour problems that might be associated with sleep problems when they are trying to decide whether to remove tonsils and adenoids, the authors say. The surgery often improves sleep problems.

Parents tend to monitor their babies' sleep by checking in on them often, but do it less so as children grow, says Weese-Mayer. She suggests they continue to keep an eye on their kids while in bed as they mature. Look at your child while he is sleeping, she says.

If you hear loud snoring or observe what seems to be pauses in breathing, alert your paediatrician, she advises.

Be aware of apnoea symptoms
Earlier this year, the American National Sleep Foundation issued information on children, obesity, and sleep. It noted that sleep apnoea, while generally viewed as a problem among middle-aged, overweight men, can also be a problem for children, especially as the number of overweight children increases.

In a prepared statement, the foundation urges parents to be aware of nighttime and daytime symptoms of sleep apnoea. They include snoring, breathing pauses during sleep, restless sleep, mouth breathing, and difficulty getting up even after enough sleep, and daytime inattention, behaviour problems, and sleepiness. - (HealthDayNews)

Read more:
Child Zone

Rate this article Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent