Anyone who has experienced a bad night’s sleep knows how critical sleep is to our well-being. Proper sleep is essential to the growth and mental development of a child. Thus, pediatric sleep disorders may impair your child’s school performance, social interactions and ability to cope with life’s daily challenges.

Although your child can catch up on an occasional disrupted night’s sleep, it’s important to address sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, sleepwalking, night terrors or insufficient sleep that can seriously affect your child’s health and well-being.

Q: My daughter has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. What causes this disorder and what treatments are available? 

A: Obstructive sleep apnea means that your daughter’s breathing, and therefore her sleep, are briefly and repeatedly interrupted throughout the night, which can lead to sleep deprivation. The source of this disruption is a result of narrowing or complete collapse of the airway. Some common causes include:

• Large tonsils, adenoids or tongue
• Being overweight or obese
• Problems with the structure of the mouth area, such as a small jaw, recessed chin or an overbite
• Nasal obstructions caused by allergies, asthma or nasal polyps that cause mouth breathing

The most common treatment option is to remove your daughter’s adenoids and tonsils, which is usually a straightforward, outpatient procedure. In certain cases, a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, jaw surgery or dental treatment may be considered.

Q: We’ve just seen a sleep specialist, who suspects my son might have obstructive sleep apnea and she has recommended an overnight sleep study. What happens during a sleep study and why is it necessary?

A: It’s not always possible for a parent to pick up on whether a child is suffering from sleep apnea, as he’s probably sleeping in a separate bedroom. Instead, you’ve probably noticed some of the daytime symptoms that can include sluggishness, irritability and difficulty getting up in the morning. Unlike adults, children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea and a lack of quality sleep may also be hyperactive or not able to concentrate and display symptoms that are very similar to those of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The only way to reach an accurate diagnosis and determine the most effective treatment plan for your son is to have him participate in an overnight sleep study. During the study, technicians will carefully observe your son during his sleep and monitor a variety of functions, including eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, airflow from the nose and mouth, and movements of the chest wall and abdomen.

Q: My 5-year-old daughter has started sleepwalking. What should we do?

A: First of all, let me reassure you that your daughter will most likely grow out of this unnerving habit. But, it is important to keep her safe. Sleepwalkers are capable of complex behaviors, such as unlocking and opening doors and windows and going through them. Some precautions include:

• Talk to the whole family so everyone is aware of what your sleepwalker might do in her sleep.
• Make sure there are no sharp edges or obstacles in her room or house that she might hurt herself on.
• Cover the windows with heavy, thick drapes.
• Fix an alarm (found at home improvement stores) to her bedroom door and add alarms on the front- and back doors.
• Make sure she’s in the lower bunk, if she shares a bunk bed with a sibling.
• Encourage her to sleep in a sleeping bag that will restrict her movement. This  may stop her from wandering in her sleep.

If you find your daughter sleepwalking, gently guide her back to bed. Check with your pediatrician to see if there are any underlying issues or other medical conditions that might be disturbing her sleep and causing her to sleepwalk.

Q: My 7-year-old son occasionally has nightmares. I’ve also heard the word night terrors being used. What’s the difference and what should I do when he is having a nightmare?

A: Although equally frightening to witness, nightmares and night terrors are not the same thing. When we are asleep, we alternate between two types of sleep – rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Nightmares occur during REM sleep, whereas night terrors occur during NREM sleep.

If your son is experiencing a nightmare, you will be able to wake him from his bad dream, gently comfort and reassure him, so he can go back to sleep. Providing a nightlight or leaving his bedroom door open may also reassure him.

A child experiencing a night terror remains asleep and cannot be woken. The only thing to do is to wait it out. Night terrors are usually over within minutes.

The good news is that children usually outgrow both nightmares and night terrors. Talk to your doctor if your son’s nightmares are persistent to make sure there are no underlying causes.

Allison Chan, D.O., is board-certified in both Neurology and Sleep Medicine and practices at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Sleep Center in Sunnyvale. Advice is not intended to take the place of an exam or diagnosis by a physician.