How is obstructive sleep apnea different in children than in adults?

Video Overview

How is obstructive sleep apnea different in children than in adults? Children are quite different than adults in the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Their sleep is restless; rarely pausing in breathing can be noticed. Most of them, as we notice, have shallow breathing. They may have bed wetting, sleep walking and their head may be hyperextended. During the day, the disorder manifests as excessive daytime sleepiness. In smaller kids, the excessive daytime sleepiness manifests as hyperactivity, behavior problems, moodiness and crankiness. Older children will actually be sleepy, fall asleep in school and have poor academic performance.