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Impaired behavioral and neurocognitive function in preschool children with obstructive sleep apnea

Yael E Landau1, Orit Bar-Yishay, Sari Greenberg-Dotan

  • 1Pediatric Neurology Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|September 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Preschool children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) show impaired executive functions, attention, and behavior. Treatment with adenotonsillectomy (TA) significantly improves these functions and quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is increasingly recognized in children.
  • The impact of OSAS on early childhood neurodevelopment requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate behavioral and neurocognitive functions in preschool children with OSAS.
  • To assess the effects of adenotonsillectomy (TA) on these functions.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive assessment battery evaluated cognitive and behavioral functions in children with OSAS versus matched controls.
  • Quality of life was assessed using validated questionnaires.
  • Follow-up assessments were conducted one year after TA.

Main Results:

  • Children with OSAS exhibited significant deficits in executive functions (planning, fluency), attention, and receptive vocabulary.
  • Parents and teachers reported more behavioral problems in the OSAS group.
  • One year post-TA, significant improvements were observed in verbal/motor fluency, attention, vocabulary, and behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Preschool OSAS is associated with significant impairments in executive function, attention, vocabulary, and behavior.
  • Adenotonsillectomy leads to notable improvements in behavior and quality of life.
  • The detrimental effects of OSAS on neurocognitive and behavioral development manifest early in childhood.
Abstract

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