Sleep 4 Kids

Snoring in children

Snoring is the most common sleep disorder, classified as Upper Airway Obstructive disorder (UAOD) , afflicting almost half the population of Australian men (44%) and one in three Australian women (30%).

That's seven million Australians!

During sleep, the muscles of the soft palate, uvula at the back of the throat and larynx, lose their muscle tone, relax, and begin vibrating against the back of the throat or the base of the tongue. This can happen when nose-breathing or mouth-breathing. Snoring can also occur when you have a stuffy nose from a cold or sinusitis, or when falling asleep in an upright position (for example, in a chair) because the jaw relaxes and drops open.

Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids can also contribute to the obstruction of the airways. Snoring reduces oxygen supply to the brain and body tissues, triggering an arousal within the brain. It is the oxygen deprivation and repetitious arousals that are the risk factors for poor health.