There is a good chance you already know that sleep apnea is a serious problem, but here's a big question: is it affecting your child in any way? The biggest problem with sleep apnea both now and in the past is that it can be virtually impossible for an individual to detect. Because it is a condition that only manifests itself during sleep, parents will need to pay close attention to their children to ensure that they are not being affected by it. Some of the most common signs of sleep apnea include:

• Exhaustion
• Irritability
• Trouble Concentrating
• Memory Issues
• Fatigue
• Snoring

Any of these could potentially be a sign of sleep apnea, but alone, they might be nothing. Regardless, it is important for a parent to investigate these symptoms and determine whether or not they could be a part of a bigger problem. A home sleep study machine, can, in fact, make all the difference in the world! Before that, however, what is sleep apnea and how can it affect an individual?

What is Sleep Apnea?

Before a parent orders a sleep study machine or any home sleep study devices they will need to know precisely what sleep apnea is and how it could be affecting their child. To put it as simply as possible, sleep apnea is a condition that causes an individual to 'not sleep'. The problem is that there are three different levels of sleep with the final level being REM. REM or Rapid Eye Movement is the level of sleep required for an individual to feel refreshed in the morning and to be able to concentrate, so if they are waking up from REM sleep, only to slide into one of the other two stages, they are not going to feel refreshed when they wake up.

Why Would a Person Wake Up from REM Sleep?

There are many reasons for which an individual would exit REM sleep, but in this case, we're talking about some of the most basic symptoms of sleep apnea. Generally, the airway collapses during sleep which causes the individual to stop breathing. As this happens they may begin to snore or it may appear as if they're gasping for breath. Even if these are not indicators of sleep apnea, they are still a condition that needs to be examined and addressed to prevent harm to the body.

How to Tell if a Child has Sleep Apnea

The symptoms that we mentioned above are always a good indicator but there are a few other things that parents should be looking out for. For example, if the child appears to be having trouble socializing, or if they appear to be falling behind in their studies at school, it might be worth investigating as this could be a sign of sleep apnea. Bear in mind however that a single standalone symptom does not necessarily indicate that there is a problem. The best way to determine whether or not treatment is needed is through a home sleep study.

Getting a Home Sleep Study

A home sleep study can be ordered by a physician at any time, and it involves a device used at home to determine sleep oximetry and various patterns. Once all of the information is collected over the course of a night, it is sent back to the sleep clinic who will be able to determine whether or not more treatment is required, or if a CPAP machine should be issued.

Sleep apnea currently affects an estimated 22 million people across the United States alone and while that might not necessarily seem like a huge number, it is potentially a huge problem that can lead to deaths and even traffic-related injuries. It is crucial to detect the problems early on so that they can be properly addressed and treated. If you suspect that your child might be suffering from sleep apnea, learn the signs and symptoms so that the proper action can be taken through a home sleep study machine. It's an easy diagnosis, and it could result in life-changing treatment.

VirtuOx is the leader in home sleep tests and pulse oximetry.