Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
08:20
Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Reduced language abilities in adolescents who snore
Georgia Andreou1, Paraskevi Agapitou
1Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Greece. andreou@uth.gr
Summary
Loud snoring in adolescents may indicate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), impacting language skills. OSAS disrupts physiological functions, potentially affecting prefrontal cortex activity crucial for verbal abilities.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Loud and frequent snoring in adolescents can be a symptom of underlying sleep disorders.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent condition affecting children and adolescents.
- Cognitive and academic performance can be influenced by sleep quality and respiratory disturbances during sleep.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and academic performance in adolescents.
- To compare polysomnographic findings in adolescents with and without loud snoring.
- To explore potential neurological mechanisms linking OSAS to language and verbal skill deficits.
Main Methods:
- Polysomnographic assessment was conducted on 20 adolescents referred for loud snoring.
- Apnea and oxygen saturation (SaO2) rates were compared between snoring adolescents and a control group of non-snoring adolescents.
- Phonemic, semantic, and academic (Greek language) test scores were evaluated in both groups.
Main Results:
- Adolescents with loud snoring were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
- The OSAS group exhibited abnormal apnea and desaturation rates (SaO2) compared to controls.
- Adolescents with OSAS scored lower on phonemic and semantic tests and received lower grades in Greek language.
Conclusions:
- Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in adolescents is linked to impaired phonemic and semantic abilities.
- Physiological disturbances caused by OSAS may lead to prefrontal cortex dysfunction.
- OSAS negatively impacts language and verbal skills, affecting academic achievement in adolescents.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
01:21Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...
The condition is more prevalent among...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:17Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking
Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...