Snoring in Children

Sometimes, parents think their child’s snoring is cute. We hear things like, “Awh, he snores just like his daddy!” and “Isn’t it cute how she snores?” In reality, snoring isn’t cute, and it should be taken seriously—in adults and especially children. The snoring sound you hear results from air rushing past a partial obstruction in your child’s throat. If their throat were clear, you’d simply hear breathing sounds. The louder and more frequent your child snores, the larger the obstruction likely is.

How is a parent supposed to know when their child’s snoring is a health concern? First, think about how long they’ve been snoring. If it just started and they have a stuffy nose, or it’s the change of a season, the snoring could be due to a temporary condition like a cold or allergies. Be sure to pay attention to their breathing during sleep when these situations improve. If there isn’t a simple explanation for their snoring, it’s frequent and more than just breathing sounds, your little one could have sleep-disordered breathing.

We understand that hearing this is stressful and frightening. Any health issue that concerns children is. It can be hard to find the proper diagnosis when it seems like medical professionals don’t work together. The doctors at ASAP Pathway are different and can help.

ASAP Pathway dentists are focused on the whole health of your child. They don’t just work alongside but work with other medical professionals to get your child the best treatment. We’ll get you in contact with an expert in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, so your child has a better chance at a healthy and flourishing life.

While not all snorers have sleep-disordered breathing, it’s still one of the primary signs. Pay attention to your child’s behavior during sleep and daytime to see if your child needs an appointment with an ASAP Pathway doctor. If you’re having trouble determining, take this quiz.

Signs of sleep-disordered breathing are present during the day and at night. At night, you may hear choking or gasping for breath, bedwetting, mouth breathing, night terrors, or you may witness stoppages in breathing.

During the day, sleep-disordered breathing will present as signs of sleep deprivation. They’ll have trouble concentrating, daytime sleepiness, behavioral problems, learning difficulties, fatigue, depression, headaches, or they may be misdiagnosed with ADHD. These daytime symptoms can look like root issues themselves. Having doctors who work together is crucial for your child’s health and wellbeing.