Snoring and Sleep Breathing Disorders
Snoring in children is NOT cute, its serious!
Research shows poor sleep contributes to a wide range of issues and including changes to the developing brain in children. Poor sleep effects children's ability to concentrate and learn so they can do well and thrive at school. Deep sleep is when the body releases growth hormone so quality sleep is essential. Snoring is a sign that your child is struggling to breathe and should never be ignored. These issues can get more complex as we get older and sleep disorders in adults can be difficult to treat. Usually your child will see an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist to check for physical obstruction such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids. I know surgery can seem like a big step but sometimes it is necessary. Sometimes tonsils and adenoids can be so big that they are choking your child in their sleep and this is serious. A child's snoring will improve after surgery but there can be times when it doesn't completely resolve. These children will benefit greatly from myofunctional therapy to re-learn nasal breathing and improve the muscle tone of the upper airway.
Myofunctional Therapy is now recognized as an effective therapy to treat sleep breathing disorders in children. When breathing is well regulated, calm and quiet, and the tongue and lips are working as they are designed, we do not snore. Heavy, open mouth breathing changes the position of the jaws and excessive airflow through a narrower space leads to turbulent, noisy airflow. Therapy is an exercise based, non-invasive option that Orofacial Myology Adelaide is extremely passionate about.
Yes, we work with adults too. Myofunctional therapy can be useful to help reduce snoring and improve sleep quality. Its best to have a sleep study to find out how severe the problem is. If you are severe, medical treatments may just save your life. Its worth a discussion with your GP if your always tired. Unfortunately, snoring is not just the annoying sound at night that annoys family members but it can affect daytime functioning to varying degrees. In adults, poor breathing during sleep can lead to daytime lethargy, difficulty concentrating, low mood and chronic disease.
Research shows poor sleep contributes to a wide range of issues and including changes to the developing brain in children. Poor sleep effects children's ability to concentrate and learn so they can do well and thrive at school. Deep sleep is when the body releases growth hormone so quality sleep is essential. Snoring is a sign that your child is struggling to breathe and should never be ignored. These issues can get more complex as we get older and sleep disorders in adults can be difficult to treat. Usually your child will see an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist to check for physical obstruction such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids. I know surgery can seem like a big step but sometimes it is necessary. Sometimes tonsils and adenoids can be so big that they are choking your child in their sleep and this is serious. A child's snoring will improve after surgery but there can be times when it doesn't completely resolve. These children will benefit greatly from myofunctional therapy to re-learn nasal breathing and improve the muscle tone of the upper airway.
Myofunctional Therapy is now recognized as an effective therapy to treat sleep breathing disorders in children. When breathing is well regulated, calm and quiet, and the tongue and lips are working as they are designed, we do not snore. Heavy, open mouth breathing changes the position of the jaws and excessive airflow through a narrower space leads to turbulent, noisy airflow. Therapy is an exercise based, non-invasive option that Orofacial Myology Adelaide is extremely passionate about.
Yes, we work with adults too. Myofunctional therapy can be useful to help reduce snoring and improve sleep quality. Its best to have a sleep study to find out how severe the problem is. If you are severe, medical treatments may just save your life. Its worth a discussion with your GP if your always tired. Unfortunately, snoring is not just the annoying sound at night that annoys family members but it can affect daytime functioning to varying degrees. In adults, poor breathing during sleep can lead to daytime lethargy, difficulty concentrating, low mood and chronic disease.
Thought Provoking Video on Sleep |
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What the Research is Saying about Myofunctional Therapy
| Myofunctional Therapy to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |
| Sleep-disordered breathing affects auditory processing in 5-7-year-old children: evidence from brain recordings |
| Model of oronasal rehabilitation in children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome undergoing rapid maxillary expansion: Research review |