Signs Your Child Might Have a Sleep or Airway Problem

Some signs are worth bringing to your pediatrician, but only a doctor can diagnose a sleep or airway problem. According to Boston Children's Hospital, signs of obstructive sleep apnea in children include snoring and “breathing pauses during sleep that last about 10 to 20 seconds and often end in a gasp, snore, snort, or sigh” (Boston Children's Hospital), along with sleeping with the mouth open, restless sleep, and daytime tiredness, moodiness, or hyperactivity. This page is general education, not a diagnosis. An orthodontist is one part of the team, because jaw development and the airway are connected.

Signs worth noting

Boston Children's Hospital lists signs of obstructive sleep apnea in children that include snoring; breathing pauses that “last about 10 to 20 seconds and often end in a gasp, snore, snort, or sigh”; sleeping with the mouth open or the neck extended; restless sleep and waking often; sweating during sleep; dry mouth or morning headaches; daytime tiredness, moodiness, irritability, or hyperactivity; and bed-wetting that returns after a child had been dry at night (Boston Children's Hospital). One sign on its own may be nothing. A cluster of them is worth a conversation with your doctor.

Why parents miss it

Two reasons. First, snoring in a child seems harmless, because we associate it with adults. Second, the daytime signs often look like a behavior or attention problem rather than a sleep problem, so the real cause gets overlooked. A child who sleeps poorly because of an airway issue can be tired, moody, or hyperactive during the day.

Why orthodontics is part of the picture

The jaws form the frame around the airway. A narrow upper jaw or a small, set-back lower jaw can leave less room for comfortable breathing during sleep. That is why an orthodontist is often part of an airway team, not to diagnose sleep apnea, but to evaluate jaw development and, when it helps, create more room during a child's growth. See our overview of airway-focused orthodontics.

What to do

If you recognize several of these signs, the right step is an evaluation with your pediatrician, who may refer to a sleep specialist or ENT. You can also have an orthodontist screen your child's jaw development; the AAO recommends that all children be screened by an orthodontist at age 7. The two work well together.

An important note

This is not a diagnosis, and no online quiz can diagnose sleep apnea. The “does my child have sleep apnea quiz” results floating around the internet are not a medical evaluation. If you are worried, a real assessment by a doctor is the only reliable answer, and it is worth getting.

Common related questions

Is snoring in children normal?

Occasional snoring with a cold is common. Regular, loud snoring, especially with pauses, gasping, or restless sleep, is worth bringing to your pediatrician.

Can an orthodontist diagnose sleep apnea?

No. Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a physician, often with a sleep study. An orthodontist screens jaw and airway development and works as part of the team.

What is the connection between teeth, jaws, and sleep?

The jaws form the structure around the airway. Narrow or underdeveloped jaws can leave less room for comfortable breathing during sleep, which is why jaw development is relevant to airway health.

Should I rely on an online sleep apnea quiz?

No. Online quizzes are not a medical evaluation and cannot diagnose sleep apnea. Use them, at most, as a nudge to talk to your doctor, not as an answer.