Snoring Can Lead to Learning Difficulties in Children

Multiple studies reveal that children that have any kind of breathing disorders during sleep are at risk of developing behavioral and cognitive difficulties.

In short, the irregular, sleep-disordered breathing fails to supply the child’s brain with the oxygen it needs to function properly. 

Plus, MRI screens reveal that Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) reduces the volume of grey mass in the frontal lobe of the child’s brain. 

These neurological changes manifest as:

• attention impairment
• space and time coordination
• impulse control 
• processing of information

In one study, the 7- to 12-year-olds that suffered from snoring and other breathing disturbances showed significantly lower cognitive abilities.

The most disturbing fact is — the results were identical, regardless of the severity of snoring, yet the frequency did play a part in the presented difficulties. Therefore, children who snored more than twice per week showed more cognitive impairment.

This can lead to:

• behavioral problems
• Attention Deficiency Disorder (ADHD)
• executive function difficulties (organization, time-management, problem-solving)
• other learning disabilities (word fluency and verbal working memory)
• lower IQ score 

Snoring and disturbed breathing in children is usually the consequence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which, in turn, can have multiple causes. These include hay fever, enlarged tonsils, obesity, and others.

Unfortunately, today there’s one more thing on the list of OSA causes — surviving a COVID-19 infection. 

Since there are rarely any anti-snoring devices that are child-adapted, practicing anti-snoring techniques can be the perfect way to prevent your child from snoring.

However, finding and addressing the underlying cause of a child’s SDB is the best approach to boosting its learning abilities, academic scores, and intelligence.