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snoring

Can’t get your teenager out of bed in the morning?

While many people think of snoring and sleep apnea syndrome as problems for adults, children and teens can suffer from it also. Sleep apnea is a condition where a person stops breathing multiple times throughout the night. Not all people who snore have sleep apnea and not all people with sleep apnea snore. Only a doctor can determine whether your teenager has a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. The Advanced Center for Specialty Care and Sleep Diagnostic Center in Chicago are trained in the evaluation and treatment of teenage sleep disorders.

The hallmark sign of sleep apnea is apneic episodes (cessation of breathing) that can last up to approximately 30 seconds and occur hundreds of times each night in severe cases. The body must continuously wake itself up at each apnea to restart breathing. Often a grunting, snorting, or choking nose is made as breathing re-starts. Sleep apnea syndrome decreases both the amount of sleep and the quality of sleep the teenager receives.

When a person with sleep apnea syndrome does not obtain sufficient restorative sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness occurs. Chronic fatigue may be recognized as falling asleep often throughout the day (during school, while watching television, or even while playing), increased irritability, depression, and behavioral problems. Teens, and especially children who are sleep deprived may display hyperactivity and are often diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In teenagers, sleep disorder effects can lead to problems at both school and home. Chronic untreated sleep apnea syndrome leads to cardiovascular problems later in life.

Sleep apnea syndrome can be caused by obstruction at any region of the upper airway. It may be caused by anatomic abnormalities in the airway or bulky tissues in the nose, back of the mouth, or throat. Enlarged tonsils and adenoid tissue (lymphatic tissue behind the soft palate) are a common cause of sleep apnea in young children and may cause sleep apnea in teenagers as well.

If your teenager is experiencing these problems, make an appointment with a specialist at a sleep disorder center in Chicago who can determine if your child is suffering from sleep apnea syndrome. A sleep apnea diagnosis can only be made following a history and physical examination and usually an overnight sleep study (polysomnogram). For this study the teenager will sleep overnight at a Sleep Diagnostics testing facility to monitor breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and other parameters to determine the diagnosis. Sleep Diagnostics is not one of the traditional Chicago sleep labs, which were located in hospitals or storefront locations. They do sleep testing at luxurious hotel locations throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Sleep Diagnostics Center also offers home sleep study testing for increased comfort and convenience.
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