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Cognitive and academic functions are impaired in children with all severities of sleep-disordered breathing

Robert Bourke1, Vicki Anderson, Joel S C Yang

  • 1Critical Care and Neuroscience Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

Sleep Medicine
|April 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) show cognitive deficits regardless of severity. These neurocognitive impairments affect intellectual, executive, and academic functions, impacting even children who snore but appear healthy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuropsychology

Background:

  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children is common.
  • The cognitive impact of SDB, particularly across varying severities, remains understudied.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cognitive function in children with different severities of SDB.
  • To compare cognitive performance between SDB groups and healthy controls.
  • To establish the relationship between SDB severity and neurocognitive outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • 137 children aged 7-12 underwent polysomnography (PSG) to classify them into primary snoring (PS), mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), moderate/severe OSAS, and control groups.
  • Cognitive function was assessed using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), Wide Range Achievement Test-3rd Edition (WRAT-3), Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT), and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT).

Main Results:

  • Children with SDB, irrespective of severity, demonstrated lower general intellectual ability.
  • Impairments in executive functioning and academic achievement were more prevalent in children with SDB.
  • These deficits were observed across all SDB classifications compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Neurocognitive deficits are common in children with SDB, regardless of disease severity.
  • Cognitive difficulties may be present in children who snore but have no other apparent health issues.
  • Findings underscore the importance of considering cognitive screening and treatment for pediatric SDB.
Abstract

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