Phelps Sleep Center Expands to Diagnose and Treet Sleep Disorders in Children

March 3, 2008

Phelps Memorial Hospital Center announces the expansion of its capability to diagnose sleep disorders in children with specialized diagnostic services provided by Dr. Nadav Traeger, a pediatric pulmonologist who is board certified in Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Traeger stated, "I'm happy to join the team at Phelps to expand its Sleep Lab capabilities and address the unmet need in the community for sleep studies in pediatric patients. Over the past few years, an increasing number of papers have been published on the negative effects of various sleep problems in children, especially with regard to obstructive sleep apnea. With pediatricians' growing awareness of this disorder, there has been an increasing need to perform sleep studies in children to make a proper diagnosis and decide whether the child should have surgical treatment."

Many people are unaware that sleep problems in children, as in adults, can place them at significant health risk. While some parents may conclude that their child is simply a poor sleeper, there may actually be a medical condition causing it, such as sleep apnea. This serious breathing disorder disrupts sleep and has a negative effect on health. Sleep apnea in children can contribute to daytime sleepiness and behavioral problems. If undiagnosed and untreated for a long period of time, it may even lead to high blood pressure and heart problems. Enlargement of the tonsils or adenoids are the most common causes for sleep apnea in children.

It is important to differentiate between plain snoring and sleep apnea in a child. Snoring is actually quite common in children. A proper diagnosis is essential to rule out sleep apnea or determine if the child is experiencing other sleep disorders.
"Many adults snore and don't have sleep apnea-it's a benign condition," says Dr. Gary Lehrman, Medical Director of the Sleep Lab at Phelps, who is board certified in Sleep Medicine. "But in children, loud snoring may not be a benign problem. It may be an indicator that these kids may have slight arousals in their brain during sleep, which may have a negative impact on their performance and behavior."

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that beginning at age five, all children should be screened for sleep-related breathing problems such as snoring. "This is something that pediatricians should be asking parents about during a routine evaluation," says Dr. Lehrman.

Since good sleep contributes to a healthier life, parents should consider having their child evaluated at a sleep lab if a sleep problem is suspected. A referral from a pediatrician or otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) is required for a child to be evaluated at Phelps' Sleep Lab. The accommodations include six bedrooms with cable television and private bathrooms. The study, which is non-invasive and not painful, involves an overnight stay. Phelps' credentialed staff uses state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to monitor the child's heart, breathing and sleep staging throughout the night. A parent stays in the same room with the child overnight while the child's sleep is studied. In the morning, the data is reviewed by a Registered Sleep Technologist (RPSGT), who submits the test results to Dr. Traeger for interpretation. A full report is sent to the referring physician.

According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2004 Sleep in America poll, America's children are sleeping less than experts recommend, while more than two-thirds experience frequent sleep problems. Children's poor sleep habits also take a toll on parents and caregivers, some of whom lose an estimated 200 hours of sleep a year due to their child's nighttime awakenings. The week of March 3-9 has been designated as National Sleep Awareness Week.

Checklist to help parents determine if their child has a sleep disorder - Does your child:

• Have difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep?
• Frequently wake up during the night?
• Snore loudly and/or often?
• Gasp or stop breathing during sleep?
• Have difficulty waking up?
• Wake up tired?
• Wake up gasping?
• Wake up with a dry mouth or throat?
• Get irritable, aggressive, and/or cranky during the day?

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, your child may have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.

Phelps' Sleep Lab medical staff also includes: Michael Bergstein, MD, FACS, Surgical Director; Charles Abate, MD, FCCP; Kenny Alan Schwartz, MD, Neurologist; and Ronald Chodosh, MD, Pulmonologist. To schedule an appointment at Phelps Sleep Lab, call 914-333-5813. Fees are covered by most health insurance plans.

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