Pediatric Sleep Disorders in Virginia and Maryland — Comprehensive Sleep Care Center

Comprehensive Sleep Care Center provides specialized diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in children and adolescents throughout the Washington, DC metro area. Our board-certified pediatric sleep medicine specialists understand that children’s sleep needs and sleep disorder presentations differ significantly from those of adults — and that untreated sleep problems in children can affect development, behavior, learning, and long-term health.

Common Sleep Disorders in Children

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea in children is often caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids and may present differently than adult sleep apnea. Children with sleep apnea may snore, breathe through their mouth, sweat excessively during sleep, wet the bed, or exhibit behavioral problems, hyperactivity, and poor academic performance — symptoms that can be mistaken for ADHD. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical.

Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood

Behavioral insomnia of childhood involves difficulty falling or staying asleep related to learned sleep associations or limit-setting difficulties. It is highly treatable with behavioral interventions.

Parasomnias

Parasomnias include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, confusional arousals, and nightmare disorder. While often developmental and self-limiting, persistent or dangerous parasomnias warrant evaluation.

Restless Legs Syndrome in Children

RLS occurs in children and is often associated with iron deficiency. Children may describe leg discomfort as ‘growing pains’ and have difficulty falling asleep.

Narcolepsy in Children and Adolescents

Narcolepsy frequently begins in adolescence. Excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden muscle weakness triggered by emotion, and disrupted nighttime sleep in a child or teenager should be evaluated promptly.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Delayed sleep phase disorder is common in adolescents, causing difficulty falling asleep until very late and extreme difficulty waking in the morning. This is a biological circadian issue, not simply a behavior problem.

Pediatric Sleep Studies at CSCC

CSCC performs comprehensive pediatric sleep studies in a safe, child-friendly environment. Our registered sleep technologists are experienced in working with children of all ages and ensure that the sleep study experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible for both children and parents.

Sleep disorders are more common among children than was generally recognized. It’s estimated that between 1 to 5 percent suffer from pediatric sleep apnea, it can occur at any age but many of them being between 2 and 8 years old.

Studies have suggested that as many as 25 percent of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may actually have symptoms of  a pediatric sleep disorder called sleep apnea. And that much of their learning difficulty and behavior problems can be the consequence of chronic fragmented sleep.

 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guideline recommends that children who frequently snore should be tested for obstructive sleep apnea.  The guideline recommends in-lab polysomnography for children with daytime learning problems, labored breathing during sleep and disturbed sleep with frequent gasps, snorts or pauses. The guidelines also call for children and adolescents to be screened for snoring as part of routine physician visits. The AAP recommends adenotonsillectomy as the first-line treatment for children with sleep apnea. Pediatricians may also recommend weight loss in obese patients or CPAP if surgery is ineffective or not conducted. 

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of pediatric sleep disorder might include:

• Bed wetting
• Night terrors
• Impulsiveness
• Irritability
• Difficulty focusing/concentrating
• Hyperactivity
• Snoring
• Pauses in breathing
• Restless sleep
• Snorting, coughing or choking
• Mouth breathing

Infants and young children with obstructive sleep apnea don’t always snore. They might just have disturbed sleep.

 Children with Pediatric Sleep Disorders May

• Perform poorly in school
• Have difficulty paying attention
• Have learning problems
• Have behavioral problems
• Have poor weight gain
• Be hyperactive

 Finding a Specialist

Comprehensive Sleep Care Center offers expert diagnosis, treatment, and care for pediatric sleep disorders for children from the ages of 3 months and up, with the goal of providing a better night’s sleep and a better day ahead for the entire family. We have 11 locations in Virginia and Maryland (Alexandria, Annapolis, Arlington, Bethesda, Chantilly, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Germantown, Lansdowne, Manassas, and Woodbridge).

Schedule a Pediatric Sleep Evaluation

Call CSCC at (703) 729-3420 or schedule online at comprehensivesleepcare.com. Our pediatric sleep specialists serve children and families across Virginia and Maryland.