Have you ever wondered if your child is getting good sleep? Does your child wake up groggy and tired even after a full night in bed? Sleep-disordered breathing can have causes that are not obvious unless you know what to look for. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors screen all children for snoring at routine visits, because snoring can be a sign of a breathing problem during sleep. Here are the warning signs to watch for.
Signs of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Your Child
Odd Sleep Positions
The body is always working to get the right amount of oxygen, and if that is not happening, it starts doing things differently to get more. Frequent moving or restlessness, unusual or contorted positions, stomach sleeping, or hyperextension of the neck may be signs of poor breathing during sleep. The body may be shifting position to try to open up the airway.
Teeth Grinding
Similar to odd sleep positions, teeth grinding can be the body’s way of trying to open the airway to get more air.
Mouth Breathing and Audible Breathing
The body is designed to breathe through the nose at all times. Mouth breathing is meant to be a secondary, backup mechanism. Whether sleeping or awake, breathing should be quiet and not audible. Breathing through the nose helps keep air warm, humidified, and filtered. On the other hand, mouth breathing can keep the body in fight-or-flight mode, dries out the mouth, and skips the natural filtering that happens in the nose.
Snoring
In fact, snoring is closely related to mouth breathing and audible breathing, since someone who is snoring is also mouth breathing.
Dental Issues
For example, the mouth offers a lot of helpful clues about sleep-disordered breathing. Some dental issues linked to it include teeth crowding and malocclusions, a high or narrow palate, excessive plaque buildup, bleeding gums, a high rate of cavities, jaw jutting, and unusual wear on teeth.
How Poor Sleep Shows Up in the Daytime
ADHD-Like Symptoms
If the body does not reach deep sleep and stays in fight-or-flight mode throughout the night, your child will likely wake up tired. As a result, they may also show ADHD-like symptoms, such as irritability, difficulty focusing, anxiety, and hyperactivity.
Bed Wetting
Also, poor breathing keeps the body’s sympathetic nervous system engaged and can prevent your child from reaching deep sleep. Normally, the body slows down urine production at night to support sleeping through the night. However, when the body gets less oxygen and less quality sleep, this can lead to bedwetting or frequent waking to use the bathroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of sleep-disordered breathing in children?
For example, common signs include snoring, mouth breathing, noisy breathing, restless sleep, teeth grinding, daytime tiredness, and bedwetting. Not every child has every sign.
Who should I talk to if I notice these signs?
First, start with your child’s pediatrician, who can look at your child’s breathing and sleep. An SLP or myofunctional therapist can also check oral function and help with how your child uses their mouth and tongue.
Can tongue-tie or oral function affect sleep?
It can. In fact, tongue position, a narrow palate, and mouth breathing are all connected to how well a child breathes at night. Our guide to tongue-tie explains more.
How ETLC Can Help
If you are noticing any of these signs, it is worth having your child’s breathing and oral function evaluated. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available.
Learn more about orofacial myofunctional therapy at ETLC or schedule a free consultation to talk with a member of our team.
You may also find these pages helpful:
- Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy: How It Helps Kids
- What Is Tongue-Tie and When Should It Be Treated?
- Oral Mechanism Exam: What It Is and Why It Matters
About the Author
Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center. With over 25 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Sonia has dedicated her career to helping children overcome complex communication and academic challenges. She has advanced training and a special focus on treating dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech, and she is passionate about providing families with a clear path to success.
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