Persistent and loud snoring in young children is associated with problem behaviors, according to a study.
These behaviors include hyperactivity, depression and inattention, according to Dean Beebe, PhD, director of the neuropsychology program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and lead author of the study.
"The strongest predictors of persistent snoring were lower socioeconomic status and the absence or shorter duration of breast-feeding," Beebe said in a news release.
The findings suggest physicians should "routinely screen for and track snoring, especially in children from poorer families, and refer loudly-snoring children for follow-up care," Beebe said. "Failing to screen, or taking a 'wait-and see’ approach on snoring, could make preschool behavioral problems worse. The findings also support the encouragement and facilitation of infant breast-feeding."
The study is believed to be the first to examine the relationship between the persistence of snoring and behavior problems in preschool-age children, according to the researchers. Persistent, loud snoring occurs in approximately one of every 10 children.
Beebe and colleagues at Cincinnati Children’s studied 249 children, surveying the children’s moms about their kids’ sleep and behaviors. The study showed that children who snored loudly at least twice a week at ages 2 and 3 had more behavior problems than children who either did not snore or who snored at 2 or 3 but not at both ages.
"A lot of kids snore every so often, and cartoons make snoring look cute or funny," Beebe said. "But loud snoring that lasts for months is not normal, and anything that puts young kids at that much risk for behavioral problems is neither cute nor funny.
"That kind of snoring can be a sign of real breathing problems at night that are treatable. I encourage parents to talk to their child’s doctor about loud snoring, especially if it happens a lot and persists over time."
Infant breast-feeding, especially over longer periods of time, seemed to protect children against persistent snoring, even after taking into account other factors such as family income, according to the researchers.
The study is scheduled for publication in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics.
These behaviors include hyperactivity, depression and inattention, according to Dean Beebe, PhD, director of the neuropsychology program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and lead author of the study.
"The strongest predictors of persistent snoring were lower socioeconomic status and the absence or shorter duration of breast-feeding," Beebe said in a news release.
The findings suggest physicians should "routinely screen for and track snoring, especially in children from poorer families, and refer loudly-snoring children for follow-up care," Beebe said. "Failing to screen, or taking a 'wait-and see’ approach on snoring, could make preschool behavioral problems worse. The findings also support the encouragement and facilitation of infant breast-feeding."
The study is believed to be the first to examine the relationship between the persistence of snoring and behavior problems in preschool-age children, according to the researchers. Persistent, loud snoring occurs in approximately one of every 10 children.
Beebe and colleagues at Cincinnati Children’s studied 249 children, surveying the children’s moms about their kids’ sleep and behaviors. The study showed that children who snored loudly at least twice a week at ages 2 and 3 had more behavior problems than children who either did not snore or who snored at 2 or 3 but not at both ages.
"A lot of kids snore every so often, and cartoons make snoring look cute or funny," Beebe said. "But loud snoring that lasts for months is not normal, and anything that puts young kids at that much risk for behavioral problems is neither cute nor funny.
"That kind of snoring can be a sign of real breathing problems at night that are treatable. I encourage parents to talk to their child’s doctor about loud snoring, especially if it happens a lot and persists over time."
Infant breast-feeding, especially over longer periods of time, seemed to protect children against persistent snoring, even after taking into account other factors such as family income, according to the researchers.
The study is scheduled for publication in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics.
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