Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

Overview

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that occurs when your child's breathing becomes partially or completely blocked repeatedly as your child sleeps. The condition is due to blockage of the upper airway during sleep. Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea usually differs from adult sleep apnea in several ways. For example, children often have only partially blocked airways and wake up less during sleep than do adults with sleep apnea. Problems with daytime behavior and attention span are seen in children with OSA.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for pediatric sleep apnea

• Expertise and experience. Doctors trained in sleep medicine have expertise and experience treating children with pediatric obstructive sleep apnea at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota offers the Center for Sleep Medicine, a sleep disorders center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and staffed by specialists trained in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.
• Team approach. Doctors trained in treating children with medical conditions (pediatricians), brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), heart and blood vessel conditions (cardiologists), lung and breathing conditions (pulmonologists), mental health conditions (psychiatrists and psychologists), and pediatric ear, nose and throat conditions (otorhinolaryngologists), as well as doctors trained in dental specialties (orthodontists and dentists) and oral and maxillofacial surgery work as a team to diagnose and treat children with sleep apnea. The multidisciplinary nature of the team allows doctors to effectively manage children with neurodevelopmental disorders including Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and cerebral palsy.

• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors and researchers study new diagnosis and treatment options for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders and may conduct clinical trials.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for pulmonology, neurology & neurosurgery, heart & heart surgery, ear, nose & throat, and psychiatry by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals in neurology & neurosurgery, pulmonology, and heart & heart surgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart