Snoring and Sleep Apnoea (Children)

In children, enlarged adenoid and tonsils are the most common causes of snoring and sleep apnoea. Conditions affecting the nose, throat or craniofacial growth can also be contributing factors.

Snoring in children is more than a social issue. It can indicate sleep apnoea, where breathing stops intermittently during sleep. Snoring has been increasingly associated with various health and developmental concerns, including poor concentration, learning difficulties, reduced IQ, behavioural problems, cardiovascular issues, hypertension, weight and growth challenges, nightmares, asthma, and in rare cases, sudden death.

To determine the severity of the condition and rule out central brain causes, our Paediatric Respiratory Medicine Service conducts sleep studies in children.

Treatment strategies can vary, including weight and diet management at the Obesity Clinic, use of night-time masks delivering pressurised air, obturators or surgical interventions. Surgery may involve removing enlarged tonsils and adenoids, radiofrequency reduction of nose turbinate swellings, soft palate surgery (laser or conventional) and tongue base advancements. In cases of craniofacial disproportions, facial advancement surgeries may be performed by our Plastic & Neurosurgeon teams.

• A/Prof Loh Woei Shyang
• Dr Annabelle Tay Sok Yan
• Dr Shih E'Ching