What Does Sleep-Disordered Breathing Look Like?

Enrichment Therapies

November 14, 2024

young girl sleeps in bed

Have you ever wondered if your child is getting good sleep? Does your child wake up groggy and tired after seemingly getting a full night’s rest? There may be underlying causes that aren’t obvious unless you know what you’re looking for! Let’s talk about some warning signs that your child has sleep-disordered breathing.

Odd Sleep Positions

The body is always working to get the proper amount of oxygen; if that isn’t happening, the body starts doing things differently to get more. If you are noticing frequent moving/restlessness, weird/contorted positions, stomach sleeping, or hyperextension of the neck, these may be signs of poor breathing during sleep. The body may be moving in different ways to try to open up the airway.

Teeth Grinding

Similar to sleeping in odd positions to help open the airway, if someone is grinding their teeth, it could be because their body is trying to open the airway to get more air.

Mouth Breathing/Audible Breathing

The body is designed to breathe through the nose at all times. Mouth breathing is supposed to be a secondary means of breathing/survival mechanism. While sleeping and awake, breathing should be quiet and not audible. Breathing through the nose helps keep air warm, humidified, and filtered. Mouth breathing keeps the body in fight or flight mode, dehydrates us, and doesn’t filter the air that we are breathing before entering the body.

Snoring

Similarly to mouth breathing and audible breathing, if someone is snoring, they are mouth breathing. 

Dental Issues

The mouth gives a lot of helpful clues for sleep disorder breathing. Some dental issues that can be linked to sleep-disordered breathing include teeth crowding and malocclusions, high/narrow palate, excessive plaque build-up, bleeding gums, high rate of cavities, jaw jutting, and wear on teeth.

ADHD-Like Symptoms 

If the body isn’t getting into a deep sleep and is staying in fight or flight mode while sleeping, your child will likely be waking up tired and may exhibit ADHD-like symptoms as a result. Some of these symptoms may include irritability, difficulty focusing, anxiety, and hyperactivity. 

Bed Wetting

If your child has poor breathing it keeps the body’s sympathetic nervous system engaged and doesn’t allow your child to get into deep sleep. Our bodies should slow down urine production at night in order to be able to sleep through the night. However, when the body is getting reduced amounts of oxygen and the body isn’t getting quality sleep, this can result in bedwetting or waking frequently to use the bathroom. 

Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center Supports Assistance With Sleep-Disordered Breathing

If your child is exhibiting any of these signs, they may be exhibiting sleep-disordered breathing. If you have concerns please reach out to us for a myofunctional evaluation. If there are concerns about sleep-disordered breathing, there will likely be other professionals who will also need to be seen in addition to a myofunctional therapist. Contact us today to learn more or set up an appointment.

info@enrichmenttherapies.com

740 Community Drive, Unit A

North Liberty, IA 52317

319-626-2553

 

 infodm@enrichmenttherapies.com

5530 West Pkwy, Suite 300

Johnston, IA 50131

515-419-4270

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