Our sleep experts will help find out if your child has a sleep disorder and suggest the best treatment option. Sometimes, they may only need lifestyle changes to sleep better. Other times, they may need special tests in our Sleep Center to find out what's wrong.
Medicines
Asthma medicines or nasal steroids can help some kids with nasal congestion. Swollen tissues in the nose and throat may play a role in mild OSA. These can improve airflow, allowing your child to breathe easier during sleep.
Tonsils and adenoid removal
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the most common airway blockages in kids with OSA. Your doctor will inspect your child's throat to see if these tissues block the airway. In young kids, the most common treatment is surgery (adenotonsillectomy) to remove them.
The surgeon removes the tonsils and adenoids through the mouth while your child is under general anesthesia. Your child can go home the same day, but recovery lasts a week or more. Your child will experience a sore throat and difficulty swallowing as they heal.
In many cases, the surgery resolves the OSA. In a few kids, it doesn't. This condition is obstructive sleep apnea persisting after adenotonsillectomy.
Weight loss
Weight loss can improve OSA or hypoventilation from obesity. Excess weight around the neck and upper airway narrows the airway and causes breathing issues. In this case, losing weight may help your child breathe better and sleep better.
Devices
If surgery doesn't work or isn't an option (like in CSA or obesity), kids may need a sleeping mask. Called a positive airway pressure device, it gently pushes air into their lungs while asleep, keeping the airway open.
Options include:
Kids with OSA who don't get better with surgery may need a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
Kids with CSA, who don't get better with surgery, or who can't tolerate CPAP, may need a bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine. It pushes air more when breathing in.
An oral appliance may help some older children or teenagers with mild OSA. It helps reposition the lower jaw during sleep to keep the airway open. These look like a mouthguard or retainer that your child wears during sleep. They may be a good option for kids who can't tolerate CPAP and aren't good candidates for surgery.
