Sleep apnea is not hereditary, there are no genes identified transmitting this disease.However, sleep apnea is often linked to a special facial bone anatomy and this anatomy can be inherited from parents. If one or both parent are diagnosed with sleep apnea, they must be vigilant. We have been fortunate to be alarmed by the surgeons and doctors.
Among the following night time symptoms, our daughter had the one marked with a star (*)
- Snoring (* light)
- Breathing pauses/irregular breathing
- Sensation of suffocation
- Night sweats
- Need to urinate at night (*)
- Restless sleep (*)
- Inconsistent sleep (*)
Among the following daytime symptoms, our daughter had the one marked with a star (*)
- Sleepiness upon awakening (*)
- Headache upon awakening (*)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (*)
- Memory loss (*)
- Focus loss (*)
- Mood and personality changes
- Shakiness (*)
For our daughter it really is the academic difficulties related to memory loss, focus loss, restless sleep and daytime sleepiness which trigger concerns, but pediatrician were not really able to help us. When her dad was diagnosed with sleep apnea, then we decided to consult for her too. We consulted at the Stanford sleep clinic, and she had a sleep test called polysomnography. She was diagnosed with 20 hypopneas per hour. Twenty times per hour, she was struggling to breathe. Each time it triggers unconscious awakening which disrupts sleep (ie inconsistent sleep).
Doctors at the sleep clinic detected an hypertrophy of the tonsils and advise for a surgery. The surgery happened on July 1st 2008. Four months later, our daughter had a new sleep study that shows a 50% improvement, ie 10 hypopneas per hour (against 20 before). It is still too much but we have noticed an improvement in academic results and in sleep quality. Indexes are indicators, but what is important is the feeling. If we noticed improvement, it is still not perfect .
Advised by the doctors at the sleep clinic, we decided to follow up with an orthodontic treatment, which aims to advance the jaw and widen the mouth. We decided to start with a more gentle methods than advised, by using a dental device called ALF (Advanced or Alternative Lightwire Functional) combined with osteopathy. The following links provide more details on ALF and its approach: ALF reference web site and photos.
Doctors at the clinic sleep recommended a dental device of type butterflies but as it acts mainly on the upper jaw and not too much on the lower jaw and, it can act unevenly: push more on one side than the other. We so have preferred to start with the ALF, which is milder. We give us 18 months to notice improvement. If in 18 month there are no progress, we will probably proceed with a butterflies type device.
In parallel, our daughter started a oro myofaciale therapy. The aim is to work on repositioning the tongue, to work swallowing and chewing. Some other exercises are to muscle the jaw and lips to help enlarge the mouth.
This is where we are today and we would be glad to hear from families with similar health problems with their kids to discuss and share experience. Feel free to leave a comment to get in touch with us.
