The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, also known as Children of the 90s, is a detailed and ongoing study of children born in the UK between April 1991 and December 1992. This research has shown strong links between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and learning difficulties in children.
For more context, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) includes conditions like snoring, mouth breathing, and apnea. These issues can disrupt sleep and affect the oxygen supply to the brain, which is crucial for a child's development. The study tracked these symptoms over time to see how they impacted behavior and learning.
The Research
The aim of the research, published by Bonuck et al., in 2012, was to determine how early symptoms of SDB, like snoring, mouth breathing, and apnea (pauses in breathing), affect children's behavior and learning as they grow. Parents reported these symptoms at several points: 6, 18, 30, 42, 57, and 69 months. By the time the children were 8 years old, the study found that kids with SDB were 40% more likely to need special education.
Key Insights from the Study
- Increased Risk of Special Education Needs: Children with SDB were 40% more likely to have learning difficulties and need special education by age 8.
- Behavioral Problems: The study found that children with early SDB symptoms were more likely to have behavioral issues. These included hyperactivity, conduct problems, and difficulties with peers.
- Early Intervention: Symptoms that appeared early (before 18 months) and then went away still increased the risk of behavior problems at age 7. This suggests that even temporary SDB symptoms can have long-lasting effects.
What Does This Mean?
If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or has pauses in breathing while sleeping, they might be at a higher risk for learning difficulties. This study shows that these symptoms can lead to a 40% increase in the need for special education. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference in your child's academic success.
Children with SDB are more likely to have behavioral problems like hyperactivity and trouble getting along with peers. Addressing SDB early can help reduce these issues and improve your child's social interactions and overall behavior.
The study also highlights the need to pay attention to SDB symptoms as early as the first year of life. Early intervention can help prevent long-term problems with learning and behavior.
The key is to ensure that your kids get adequate sleep and breathe properly while sleeping, so it is not interrupted. The first step is to learn and practice these easy breathing exercises for kids; these exercises are effectively designed to improve their sleep quality, unblock their nose, and enhance their confidence. In addition, you can purchase MyoTape for Kids, a gentle mouth tape specifically designed by Dr. Patrick McKeown for children that promotes nasal breathing, helps to reduce snoring, and improves sleep quality.
References:
Bonuck, Karen, Katherine Freeman, Ronald D. Chervin, and Linzhi Xu. “Sleep-disordered breathing in a population-based cohort: behavioral outcomes at 4 and 7 years.” Pediatrics 129, no. 4 (2012): e857-e865. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313633/
