Study: Sleep apnea linked to behavioral problems in children
By HME News Staff
Updated Mon April 1, 2013
TUCSON, Ariz. - Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have higher rates of an array of behavioral problems, a study from the University of Arizona has found. Some of those behavioral problems may include hyperactivity, attention problems, aggression, lower social competency, poorer communication, and/or diminished adaptive skills, according to the study. Authored by Michelle Perfect, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, the study examined 263 children aged 6-11 to determine the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing and its effects on behavior. Researchers concluded that children with an occurrence of sleep apnea were four to five times more likely to have or develop behavioral problems. Children who had constant sleep apnea were six times more likely, according to the study.
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