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Kids can have snoring
problems too! Although snoring and OSA is
usually associated with ageing -- The increase in
incidence of snoring in men is about a percentage
a year from age 30
through 60 years old. So about 30% of men snore at
age 30 and 60% snore at 60. After age 60 there is
less of an increase in numbers. Women are less
likely to snore at age 30, but the percentage increases
noticeably after menopause. ... Remember, that allot of
snoring but not everyone that snores has OSA or UARS
complications!
Back
to Kids! The American Academy
of Pediatrics recommends that physicians should screen all
children for chronic snoring and the possibility of OSA.
Tonsils and
adenoids (the spongy tissue between the back of the
nose and throat) is often the snoring culprit. Excess
weight is the next most frequent cause for their
snoring; excess weight among children is an
increasing and alarming trend in our country! Lower
jaw growth seems to be another link to sleep breathing
disorder. Small recessive
mandibles (lower jaws) have a higher association
with snoring problems than mandibles that adequately match
to upper jaws.
Persistent
childhood snoring can be a cause of learning and behavior
problems. The disruptive snoring can cause ADD
(attention deficit disorder) like symptoms and
diagnosis. Sixty percent of children diagnosed with
ADD snore regularly. Nearly half of these snorers
have a direct cause and effect between the snoring
and ADD symptoms. Once the breathing disorder
is corrected the learning and behavior improve.
Surgical removal of the adenoids and tonsils is a
common remedy for relief of snoring with OSA for children
under the age of 11 - 12. Sometimes other options
can be effective in reducing the soft tissue
swelling. Attention to environmental allergies and
food allergins can be an important factor for breathing
improvement in children. Proper nutrition and
possibly vitamin supplementation can also help.
During the child's growth years orthodontic treatment can
help the mandible reach its full growth potential and
ideally improve the sleep breathing.
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