The treatment for children's sleep disorders is different than for adults.

Usually, treatment for sleep apnea in children involves tonsil and adenoid surgery (T&A). However, keep in mind that not all children who snore, are suspected to have sleep apnea by a clinician, or have large tonsils and adenoids actually have sleep apnea when tested by a sleep study.

So, before you consider a tonsillectomy for suspicion of sleep apnea, you should have the diagnosis confirmed via a sleep study.

2 of 100 pre-elementary to middle school-age children have sleep apnea. A lot more (up to 10%) will snore habitually. A sleep study will distinguish simple snorers from true apneics and therefore avoid unnecessary surgery.

If a child is not treated for sleep apnea, then depending on the severity, we may find problems with behavior; memory; school performance and learning; bed-wetting; daytime sleepiness; mood disorders, such as depression; hyperactivity; and out-of-focus behavior similar to Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In more severe cases, there could be problems with the heart, including enlargement of the right side of the heart, elevated blood pressure, and pulmonary hypertension, as well as problems with some of the hormones that control feeding and lipid and other metabolism.

Learn more about the treatments for childhood sleep apnea.