At Kootenai Clinic Sleep Medicine and laboratory our sleep clinicians have subspecialized training in pediatric sleep medicine. Pediatric patients, age 5 and older, are evaluated following a consultation and referral from their primary care provider. This may include an in-lab sleep study which can evaluate for a variety of sleep disorders. Children who have problems with sleep such as trouble falling/staying asleep or who experience restlessness, snoring, or excessive daytime sleepiness may have an underlying sleep disorder.

Other symptoms of sleep disorders can include:

• Difficulty breathing while sleeping
• Persistent bedwetting
• Recurrent nightmares or unusual behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking and/or night terrors
• Pauses in breathing for short periods during sleep (apnea)
• Narcolepsy (uncontrollable daytime sleep episodes)

Many factors can contribute to sleep disorders such as:

• Enlarged tonsils, asthma or other conditions that affect breathing
• Medical diagnosis such as obesity, developmental delays, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Medications
• Caffeine
• Lack of a regular sleep schedule
• Depression and/or anxiety
• Pain

Potential adverse health consequence of untreated sleep disorders in children and adolescents include:

• Mood disorders (depression, anxiety)
• Impulse control disorders (increased near fatal-suicidal attempts)
• Behavioral disorders (irritability, ADHD)
• Cognitive disorder (learning difficulties, decreased fluid intelligence, verbal IQ, and decreased memory)
• Developmental delay (decreased growth)
• Cardiovascular disorders (resistant hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arrhythmias)
• Poor athletic performance (increased risk of joint pain and musculoskeletal injuries)

Kootenai Health Sleep Medicine is accredited with the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and follows the recommended standards for testing for all patients. This includes the standard of in-lab sleep studies for pediatric patients experiencing symptoms related to sleep. Our multidisciplinary team will then work with your child’s primary care provider to provide the appropriate treatment and follow-up. Our goal is to help children sleep better so they can feel better and thrive.

Questions? Contact Kootenai Clinic and Sleep Disorders Center at (208) 625-6877