Help! My child is snoring. Is it a problem?

So – you have started to hear your child snoring, or perhaps it’s being going on for a while and you’re not sure if it’s a problem. As parents, the first thing we usually do is think ‘there much be something wrong!’ But I am here to try and put your mind at ease.

Firstly, is snoring in children dangerous?

The short answer is, no. Minor and occasional snoring can affect up to one third of children. You may notice your child snoring when they are sick with an upper respiratory tract infection and then it often resolves when they are well. Most of the time intermittent, short-lived snoring doesn’t impact a child’s sleep quality or overall health.

However, snoring may be a sign of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) a spectrum of sleep disturbance including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Poor sleep quality and OSA can affect your child’s overall health and wellbeing.

For example, OSA may

• Impact your child’s ability to learn and concentrate
• Cause behavioural problems such as irritability and mood swings
• Affect the nervous system and heart
• Impact your child’s growth and development

What causes snoring in children?

Snoring or noisy breathing occurs when airflow is impeded and can’t flow easily through the airway. The tissues vibrate and the airflow becomes turbulent making a noise.

Multiple factors can cause blockage to airflow but in children the most common reasons are:

• Large/swollen tonsils and adenoids by far are the most common cause. These take up space in the airway and block the flow of air when children are asleep.
• Being overweight or obese causes pressure and blockage of the airway
• Nasal blockage and allergy can block airflow through the nose
• Other anatomical issues relating to the jawbone and tongue

So, when should you see a specialist about your child’s snoring?

The following are symptoms which indicate that you should see a specialist regarding your child’s snoring:

• When the snoring is regular and heavy
• Signs of disrupted sleep ie. restlessness, gasping for air, pauses in breathing, wakefulness
• Hyperactivity in the morning
• Daytime fatigue
• Sleeps with their mouth open and neck extended

I often advise parents to try and record their child when they are snoring as this is helpful in providing a more accurate diagnosis.

Treating Snoring in Children

A Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy – surgery to removal tonsils and adenoids, can have a significant impact in improving your child’s sleep quality and cure snoring. An ENT Specialist like Dr Floros, will be able to assess the size of your child’s tonsils and adenoids to see if this is appropriate.

However, there are alternatives, as non-surgical management of nasal blockage/congestion and Allergy can also be effective in children.

Does my child need a sleep study?

Most children don’t require a sleep study to diagnose SDB or OSA. There are circumstances in which a sleep study may be considered such as:

• to assess the severity of sleep apnoea
• confirm the diagnosis
• exclude other sleep disorders

Although mild, infrequent snoring can be normal, regular snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea and this can impact your child’s learning, development, general wellbeing and behaviour.

If you think your child’s snoring has become an issue then it is advised that you get a referral from your GP/Specialist to see an ENT Specialist, like Dr Floros who has specific training and experience in Children Snoring and OSA.