Pediatric Sleep Studies
What sleep disorders are diagnosed with a Sleep Study or Polysomnography?
The test can help diagnose a wide range of sleep disorders, including:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
- Restless Leg Syndrome: An uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often causing discomfort and disrupting sleep.
- Narcolepsy: A condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.
- Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD): A condition where a child involuntarily jerks or moves their limbs during sleep.
- Parasomnias: Disorders like sleepwalking, night terrors, or talking during sleep.
Sleep Study or Polysomnography: Gold standard test for diagnosis of Sleep Apnea in Children?
Sleep Apnea can cause a child to snoring, repeatedly stop breathing during sleep, leading to oxygen deprivation, poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and daytime fatigue. This can affect a child’s cognitive development, behavior, and overall health. For many parents, symptoms of sleep apnea in children are often misunderstood or overlooked as most are unable to recognize them as signs of a serious sleep disorder. Sleep Study or Polysomnography is particularly important for diagnosing Sleep Apnea in children, a condition that can have significant health consequences if left untreated.
How Does Polysomnography Work for Children?
A Polysomnography test for children is similar to the procedure used for adults, but it’s tailored to be comfortable and non-invasive for younger patients. Here’s a brief overview of how the process works:
- Preparation: Prior to the Sleep Study, we will discuss your child’s medical history, sleep patterns, and symptoms. Parents should inform us of any medications or underlying health conditions.
- Setting Up for the Study: On the night of the study, your child will be asked to sleep in a specially equipped sleep room at the hospital or sleep center. The room has a comfortable bed, and staff will be available to assist if needed.
- Electrode Placement: Small sensors, electrodes, and bands will be placed on your child’s head, chest, and legs. These devices monitor brain activity, heart rate, breathing, eye movements, and muscle activity. Though the setup may seem extensive, it’s generally painless, and the child can usually fall asleep while the equipment is being placed.
- Monitoring: While your child sleeps, the equipment will record their brain waves, heart rate, oxygen levels, and other vital signs. The technician will monitor the data in real-time, making sure everything is functioning properly.
- Data Collection and Analysis: The data collected during the night is analyzed the next days. The analysis will determine if there are any irregularities or disruptions during sleep, such as apnea events, abnormal limb movements, or other sleep disorders.
- Follow-Up: After the Polysomnography test, the results will be shared with you. Based on the findings, a personalized treatment plan will be recommended.
Types of Sleep Study done for Children
There are two types of sleep studies performed for children, Cardiorespiratory Sleep Study and full Polysomnography Study. Cardio respiratory sleep study is the most common sleep study which is performed in children and it involves limited channels as shown in the figure. In some children we do perform a full polysomnography where monitoring of the brain activity is also required.
Cardiorespiratory Sleep Study
This would involve the following monitoring channels as shown in the figure:
- Stretchy Bands on the chest and tummy (thoracic/abdominal bands) to look at breathing.
- ECG electrodes for measuring Cardiac rhythm Sensor measuring oxygen levels (SpO2)
- Sensor for measuring Carbon Dioxide (Co2) i.e waste gas from body (End Tidal Co2) Nasal cannula to measure the flow of gases from the nose.
- Continuous Video and Audio recording would be done with a camera and a mike.
Full Polysomnography Study
This would involve the following monitoring channels as shown in the figure:
- EEG: some sensors and wires over the head to measure brain activity.
- EOG: two sensors near the eyes
- Chin EMG: three sensors on the chin
- During the application of these wires, the head would be measured and then marked. These spots are cleaned; EEG wires are attached with a special paste, and a light mesh cap is placed over the wires so that they would not pop off during sleep.
Is Polysomnography Right for Your Child?
If your child is experiencing sleep disturbances, excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, or other related symptoms, Polysomnography may be an essential diagnostic tool. It can provide valuable insights into your child’s sleep patterns and help detect underlying sleep disorders that may not be evident during a regular check-up.
Conclusion
Pediatric Sleep Lab at BLK MAX Hospital and Children's Chest Clinic
We specialize in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders in children, using state-of-the-art tools like Polysomnography to ensure accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. We have state-of-art Level 1 sleep labs both at BLK Max Hospital and at Children’s Chest Clinic especially for children. Both cardio respiratory studies and full polysomnography are routinely conducted at both places. Sleep studies are conducted by our trained technicians. All Sleep Studies are supervised and reported by Dr Ankit Parakh at both places.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Polysomnography safe for children?
Yes, Polysomnography is very safe for children. The test is non-invasive and is performed under the supervision of experienced sleep technicians. The equipment used is designed to be comfortable and cause minimal disruption to the child’s sleep.
2. What age is appropriate for Polysomnography in children?
Polysomnography can be performed on children of all ages, including infants and toddlers. In fact, sleep disorders can affect children at any age, and early diagnosis is crucial for preventing long-term complications.
3. How long does the Polysomnography test take?
The Sleep Study typically takes a full night to complete. Your child will be monitored throughout the night, and the test will end in the morning after they wake up. The entire process is designed to mimic a normal sleep cycle as closely as possible.
4. How should I prepare my child for a Polysomnography test?
There is usually very little preparation required for the Sleep Study. Parents are advised to bring their child’s favorite blanket or stuffed toy to make the sleep environment more comfortable. Ensure that your child follows their usual sleep routine before the test, and avoid caffeine or stimulating activities prior to the study.
5. Will my child be able to sleep during the test?
Yes, most children can sleep comfortably during a Polysomnography test, despite the monitoring equipment. The sleep center staff are trained to make the process as comfortable as possible. Many children fall asleep without issue, though younger children might need some reassurance to feel at ease in the new environment.
6. Can I get a sleep study at home for my child?
Home sleep studies are not recommended for children as in most cases the equipment used is of poor quality with limited channels and no audio-visual recording. In addition, we do not have access to data and the quality of reporting is very poor.
