ACADEMIC STRUGGLES BY: ANGELA GOLDTHWAITE RDAEF2
Back to school is around the corner… How does your child feel about that? Some kids are having so much fun over the summer break they dread going back to school, but unfortunately, other children dread going back because they struggle academically. Did you know that quality sleep may play a major role in your child’s ability to the successfully grasp the 3 R’s… reading, ‘riting and ‘rythmatic?
That’s right! Studies have found that your child’s daytime sleepiness may not impair all of their cognitive and scholastic abilities… just the ones that rely on verbal abilities and complex cognitive functions[1] such as:
Reading comprehension Oral comprehension Language learning[2] Spelling and Mathematics
Besides teens staying up late playing video games and watching movies, or younger children just defying your pleas for them to brush their teeth and go to bed, what else could be contributing to your child’s daytime sleepiness, that I am suggesting?
Have you heard of something called Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB)?
In a nutshell, SDB is defined as a condition characterized by repeated episodes of hypopnea (under-breathing) and apnea (not breathing) during sleep.[3]These episodes can occur with symptoms as seemingly benign as snoring or as major as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Furthermore, SDB can occur at almost any age.
A number of studies in PubMed articles suggest that sleep quality and quantity are closely related to behavior[4] and mood as well as student learning capacity and academic performance.[5] When lack of quality and quantity of restorative sleep is habitual, symptoms may include:
- Hyperactivity
- Reduced school grades
- Depression Irritability
- Aggression
- Difficulty controlling impulses and emotions
Symptoms resembling ADHD[6]
Dr. Azouz is a Sleep Dentistry specialist who may be able to help you or your child with sleep breathing issues by addressing the root cause.
Give our office in Citrus Heights a call today for more information on the root cause of many SDB symptoms and find out about a permanent fix for life. Your child’s future could change course toward greater success when they can breathe and sleep well!