Pediatric Sleep Medicine Specialists: Helping Children Sleep Better and Thrive

Comprehensive Sleep Care Center | Pediatric Sleep Medicine in Northern Virginia, Maryland & the Washington, DC Metro Area

Sleep is essential to a child’s growth, learning, behavior, emotional health, and overall well-being. But when a child consistently struggles to fall asleep, snores loudly, wakes frequently, or seems unusually tired—or even overly active—during the day, an underlying pediatric sleep disorder may be the cause.

At Comprehensive Sleep Care Center (CSCC), our sleep medicine team provides specialized evaluation, diagnosis, sleep testing, and treatment for children and adolescents experiencing sleep problems.

With convenient locations throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area, CSCC helps families find answers and develop an individualized plan to help their children get the healthy sleep they need.

What Is Pediatric Sleep Medicine?

Pediatric sleep medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating sleep disorders specifically in infants, children, and adolescents.

Children are not simply “small adults” when it comes to sleep. Their sleep requirements, sleep patterns, symptoms, and treatment needs can be very different.

For example, an adult with obstructive sleep apnea may experience significant daytime sleepiness. A child with disrupted sleep may instead show signs such as hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, irritability, behavioral problems, or declining school performance.

That is why evaluation by a provider experienced in pediatric sleep disorders can be so important.

Does Your Child Need to See a Pediatric Sleep Specialist?

Occasional restless nights are common in childhood. However, ongoing symptoms may be a reason to speak with your child’s pediatrician or a sleep medicine specialist.

Parents should pay particular attention to symptoms such as:

Frequent or loud snoring
Pauses in breathing during sleep
Gasping, choking, or labored breathing while sleeping
Restless or disrupted sleep
Frequent nighttime awakenings
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Excessive sweating during sleep
Bedwetting beyond the expected age
Morning headaches
Difficulty waking in the morning
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Hyperactivity or impulsive behavior
Irritability or mood changes
Problems with attention or concentration
Declining academic performance
Unusual movements or behaviors during sleep

Snoring in children should not automatically be considered normal. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening children and adolescents for snoring, and children with regular snoring plus symptoms or signs of obstructive sleep apnea may require further evaluation or an overnight sleep study.

Pediatric Sleep Apnea: More Than Just Snoring

One of the conditions evaluated by pediatric sleep medicine specialists is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a child’s airway becomes partially or completely blocked repeatedly during sleep, disrupting normal breathing and sleep.

Signs of sleep apnea in children may include loud snoring, breathing pauses, gasping, restless sleep, daytime sleepiness, attention difficulties, or behavioral problems. Untreated pediatric sleep apnea has also been associated with problems involving behavior, learning, growth, and cardiovascular health.

Some children may be at increased risk because of enlarged tonsils or adenoids, obesity, craniofacial differences, neuromuscular conditions, or certain other medical conditions.

Identifying the cause of a child’s sleep problems is an important first step toward finding the right treatment.

Pediatric Sleep Disorders We Evaluate

In addition to pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, children and adolescents can experience many different types of sleep disorders.

Our sleep medicine team evaluates children for conditions and concerns that may include:

Obstructive sleep apnea
Snoring and sleep-disordered breathing
Insomnia
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Restless sleep
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
Narcolepsy
Parasomnias
Sleepwalking
Night terrors
Restless legs symptoms
Abnormal movements during sleep
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Because sleep problems can sometimes overlap with behavioral, neurological, respiratory, or ENT concerns, a comprehensive sleep evaluation can help determine what may be disrupting your child’s sleep.

Pediatric Sleep Studies

When a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea is suspected, your child’s sleep medicine provider may recommend an overnight pediatric sleep study, also known as polysomnography (PSG).

An in-lab sleep study records multiple functions while a child sleeps, allowing the sleep medicine team to evaluate breathing, oxygen levels, sleep stages, movements, heart rate, and other important information.

For children with snoring and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, overnight attended polysomnography is considered the gold-standard diagnostic test.

At Comprehensive Sleep Care Center, sleep testing is performed in an environment designed to help patients and families feel as comfortable as possible. CSCC provides access to AASM-accredited sleep centers, giving families confidence that their child’s sleep evaluation follows established standards for quality sleep medicine.

Treating Sleep Apnea in Children

Treatment for pediatric sleep apnea depends on the child’s age, diagnosis, severity of the condition, anatomy, medical history, and individual needs.

Some children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids may be referred to an ENT specialist for evaluation. Other children may require additional sleep medicine treatment and follow-up.

For certain pediatric patients, CPAP therapy may be recommended, particularly when obstructive sleep apnea continues after surgery or when surgery is not appropriate. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine states that CPAP can be safe and effective for pediatric OSA, including in younger and lower-weight children, when managed by a clinician with expertise in pediatric OSA.

Treatment should always be individualized to the child rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Sleep, Behavior and School Performance

One reason pediatric sleep disorders can sometimes go unnoticed is that sleep deprivation does not always look like “sleepiness” in children.

A child who isn’t getting enough quality sleep may have trouble concentrating, become irritable, appear unusually energetic, struggle with impulse control, or have difficulty performing at their best in school.

Sleep apnea in children has been associated with neurobehavioral and learning problems, making it important to consider sleep when a child is experiencing unexplained daytime or behavioral changes.

Better sleep can support better days.

Pediatric Sleep Medicine Near You

Families searching for a pediatric sleep specialist near Washington, DC don’t have to travel far for comprehensive sleep care.

Comprehensive Sleep Care Center serves families throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, and surrounding communities, including:

Virginia: Alexandria, Springfield, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, McLean, Vienna, Chantilly, Centreville, Reston, Herndon, Ashburn, Leesburg, Loudoun County, Manassas, Woodbridge, Dumfries, Stafford and Fredericksburg.

Maryland: Bethesda, Rockville, North Bethesda, Potomac, Germantown, Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and surrounding communities.

With multiple convenient locations throughout the DC metropolitan region, families can access pediatric sleep medicine consultations, diagnostic sleep testing, and ongoing sleep disorder care closer to home.

When Should You Make an Appointment?

If your child snores regularly, struggles to sleep, stops breathing or gasps during sleep, is excessively tired during the day, or is experiencing unexplained attention, behavioral, or school-performance problems, it may be time for a sleep evaluation.

Finding and treating a sleep disorder can make an important difference in a child’s health and quality of life.

At Comprehensive Sleep Care Center, our goal is to help children—and their families—understand what is interfering with healthy sleep and find an appropriate path forward.

Help Your Child Say Hello to Sleep Again

If you are concerned about your child’s sleep, talk with your pediatrician or contact Comprehensive Sleep Care Center to schedule a pediatric sleep medicine consultation.

Comprehensive Sleep Care Center
Pediatric Sleep Medicine | Sleep Studies | Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Treatment
Serving Northern Virginia, Maryland & the Washington, DC Metro Area

Say Hello to Sleep Again.

Tips for Your Child’s Sleep Study

By Amanda Jones RPSGT- A Sleep Technician Mommy

An in-lab sleep study can be stressful for the adult patient. But bringing your child in for a sleep study can be nerve-wracking for the both of you. Our Sleep Technician Manager (and mommy of 2) is here to help give you some tips for your child’s sleep study and what to expect.

Pediatric Sleep Study Tips

To best prepare your child, keep napping to a minimum on the day of the study. Keeping your child from napping may help them fall asleep easier in the lab. Of course, it may be difficult to prevent your child from falling asleep, but do your best to minimize napping the day of the study.
You and your child will be greeted by a friendly, experienced licensed sleep technologist. You both will be shown to your private room for the night. Our rooms have a queen size bed, TV, and an overstuffed recliner for your comfort.
The sleep technologist will go over any questions you may have prior to starting the study. Your child will be asked to sit in a computer chair while the wires are applied. The hook up can take up to 30 minutes, so if your child has an iPad, book, or toy they like, feel free to bring it!
During the hook up, the sleep tech will politely explain why the wires are being applied. This, in turn, will make your child feel more comfortable. As an example: For some younger children, some techs will say the wires will test for superpowers! This set-up includes the following equipment:
- A bandage-like sensor that measures your child’s oxygen will be placed on the toe or finger
- Small plastic prongs at the nose will measure your child’s exhaled air
- Elastic or cloth belts will be placed on your child’s chest and stomach, usually over their pajamas
- Stick-on electrodes will be placed on your child’s face and chest to measure eye movements, heart rate, and muscle tone during sleep.
  - A few additional electrodes are applied with a washable paste on your child’s scalp to measure stages of sleep
We do recommend and ask that the parent sleep in the recliner and not in the bed with the child. This is so we get a clear recording of your child’s movements and sleep patterns. If the parent were to sleep in the bed with a child and simply just change positions, it could cause the child to wake up or make it look like the child was moving their leg.
- We understand that this can be stressful and at times scary for your little one, and they may need your comfort while laying in bed. This is OK. We only ask that once the child is asleep, you exit the bed quietly and move to the recliner to sleep.
If your child has any comfort items (blanket, stuffed animal, etc.), we recommend and welcome them to come to the sleep over as well!
If your child likes to have a bedtime snack or a specific nighttime drink (ex: milk), make sure to bring those as well. The lab does have a refrigerator, a water cooler with hot and cold water and a microwave, if needed.
No need to worry if your child is a restless sleeper. The sleep technologist will be monitoring your child and the leads throughout the night. They might have to come into the room a few times to adjust or reattach wires that come loose.
If your child has a hard time tolerating the study, don’t worry. The sleep technologist is experienced working with children and will work hard to get the proper data for the doctors. The doctors are great and are equipped to read the data collected, even if its not perfect.
If your child has bed-wetting accidents at night, that is not a problem! Kindly let the tech know so they can lay down extra protection.
The wires are pain-free to attach, as well as remove. We have adhesive remover on hand for an easy removal in the morning with little irritation! There will be some paste residue on the face and head once the wires are removed. This residue is water soluble and will wash out with warm water. Using conditioner can help make the paste removal easier, as well as micellar water or rubbing alcohol.

Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Up to 50% of children will experience a sleep problem. Early identification of sleep problems may prevent negative consequences, such as daytime sleepiness, irritability, behavioral problems, learning difficulties, motor vehicle crashes in teenagers, and poor academic performance.

Our goal at Comprehensive Sleep Care Center is to make you and your child’s experience as comfortable and beneficial as possible.

Tag Archive for: pediatric sleep study