Children with Large Necks at Risk for Sleep Apnea, Hyperactivity

Sleep apnea, which is a problem where someone stops breathing while asleep, is more common among the elderly and obese. However, with even children become overweight and obese at alarming rates, they, too, are at risk of developing sleep apnea. It is estimated that approximately 2 percent of children have sleep apnea.

In a study at the University of Virginia, researchers examined 215 children and found that neck size correlated with sleep-related breathing problems, as measured by number of pauses of breathing and drops in oxygen levels while asleep, better than body mass index, weight, or tonsil size. This study suggests that children who have larger neck sizes, often present in the overweight or obese, should be asked about difficulties with excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, and apnea events during sleep. They may need formal sleep studies for further evaluation and could benefit from treatment.

It is interesting to note that children with sleep apnea tend to have a paradoxical, or opposite, response to sleep deprivation. When sleep is disrupted, rather than being more drowsy during the day like an adult would be expected to become, children actually are observed to become hyperactive. It is probable that some children who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may actually have undiagnosed sleep apnea.