Sleep Disorders in Children can Affect Their Behaviour – Study

Friday 9th March 2012

Does your child often snore at night? It may just seem like an adorable trait, but a new piece of research suggests that this could potentially lead to behaviour problems in later life. This is because snoring is a type of sleep disorder, or a symptom of another disorder, and children with sleep disorders are 40 percent more at risk of experiencing an effect in their behaviour as they grow up, according to the new evidence.

The study, carried out by researchers at New York’s Albert Einstein Medical College, looked at the night-time breathing of over 13,000 children from infancy to age seven. It found that those who had experienced some form of irregular breathing, such as snoring or sleep apnoea, were 40 percent more likely to develop emotional problems, anxiety or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

In an interview with Reuters, lead researcher Karen Bonuck, spoke of the findings. She recognised that these behavioural problems are often caused by multiple factors, but went on to say: “Even considering all those variables, overall, sleep-disordered breathing seemed to have the strongest effect.” She also suggested that parents should keep an eye on their children’s breathing at night.

It’s currently sleep awareness week in the USA, but here in the UK we should also take the time to learn about potential sleep disorders and problems that we might have, or that our family members might have. If your child suffers from irregular breathing at night, you should not hesitate to consult your doctor about it.

Tags: ergoflex sleep research behaviour illness problems study

Category: Sleep Research

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