Sleep Related Issues That Affect School Performance
Mar 11, 2022 12:00 PM
Reneta Nehme
Sleep Related Issues That Affect School Performance

Is it bad behavior? Or lack of good sleep? The prevalence of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) in children is as high as 13%, but who’s counting? Are there enough professionals trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of SDB? 

Currently, there are only 270 pediatric sleep specialists in the country. It’s imperative for all individuals who interact with children on a daily basis to be familiar with these signs. 

The field of myofunctional therapy studies orofacial growth and development including the role of breastfeeding, early feeding, tongue restriction, nutrition, sleep disturbances, and breathing issues. Sleep-disordered breathing is an umbrella term for several chronic conditions in which partial or complete cessation of breathing occurs many times throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness or fatigue that interferes with a person’s ability to function and reduces quality of life. Symptoms may include snoring, pauses in breathing, and disturbed sleep.