Obstructive sleep apnea can also affect children. During sleep, the airway muscles relax, causing the narrowing or temporary blockage of the air passage in some children. This condition can lead to breathing pauses, drops in oxygen levels, and repeated sleep interruptions.
Loud and habitual snoring is one of the main warning signs of this condition in children. Other nighttime signs include mouth breathing, restless sleep, breathing pauses, gasping, or effort to breathe during the night.
During the day, some children with sleep apnea may show irritability, difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, or learning problems. These daytime symptoms can resemble those of ADHD, which can make the condition harder to recognize.
