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“I think it's cool, Dad”
- Paul K.'s son about taking his CPAP with him camping
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Child Sleep Problems

People often do not realize that small children — as well as pre-teens and adolescents — can suffer from sleep problems. In fact, kids don't often seem especially sleepy while other symptoms may hold the key. Their issues may range from sleep apnea to night terrors. NorthShore Sleep Medicine accepts patients 2-years-old and older.

Pediatric Sleep Screening Questionnaire

"No child should be diagnosed with a behavioral or learning disability without first being tested for a sleep disorder."
— Dr. Shives

If you can answer "Yes" to any of these questions, your child may have a serious sleep disorder.

  1. Does your child have large tonsils?
  2. Does your child snore, gasp or stop breathing while sleeping?
  3. Does your child sleep with a hyperextended (arched) neck?
  4. Does your child sweat a lot during the night?
  5. Has the child stopped growing at a normal rate?
  6. Is the child overweight?
  7. Does the child have trouble with bedwetting (over age 5)?
  8. Does the child have behavior problems, such as aggressiveness, hyperactivity or defiance?
  9. Does the child have academic problems, such as difficulty sitting still, paying attention or organizing and completing tasks?
  10. Has anyone suggested that the child be evaluated for ADHD?

Click here to download the questionnaire about your child's sleep problems.

Common Symptoms

TIP: See details about the types of
problems kids may be experiencing.
See "Sleep Disorders in Children" >>
  • difficulty concentrating, paying attention and remembering
  • depression, anxiety, aggressive/defiant behavior or other psychiatric problems
  • excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
  • attention deficit disorder (ADD) or hyperactivity
  • disturbed, fragmented sleep
  • sleep walking
  • sleep talking
  • confusional arousals
  • sleep enuresis (bedwetting)
  • snoring or heavy, labored breathing
  • and many more

See our article on Sleep Disorders in Children for details about the types of problems kids may be experiencing.

Treatment Options

At Northshore Sleep Medicine, we specialize in diagnosing sleep problems in children and adolescents. Options for treatment may include recommendations such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine which patients use at home. Call our office at 847.674.3600 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

 
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