Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a major problem in the United States and the world, with over 3 million cases annually in the US alone. ADD is described as a chronic condition (meaning it doesn't quickly go away) where someone has problems concentrating for prolonged periods, is hyperactive, and acts impulsively. A child with ADD will typically have trouble paying attention in school, unable to concentrate on schoolwork or anything else. Treatment options are often limited to behavioral therapy and/or medication.
More and more we're seeing this problem related to sleep disordered breathing in children. Essentially this means that the child is not getting enough oxygen to their brain and body at night and are unable to get restful and restorative sleep. Some signs/symptom of this include: grinding or clenching of the teeth, requiring excessive amounts of time in bed to feel rested, tossing and turning/restless sleep, mouth breathing during sleep and/or during the day, dental issues such as crooked teeth, snoring, an overbite or underbite, bags/venous pooling under the child's eyes, becoming excessively tired during the day, inability to focus or concentrate, frequent and unexplained mood swings, etc.
Why would a child have sleep disordered breathing? There are many reasons this happens in children and it's best to get assessed by a trained professional. Luckily early intervention can be very successful and can not only lead to a more well-behaved and friendly child, but also vastly improve his/her health moving forward. A good night's sleep is so important for neurological development and growth, and treatment options for kid's vary depending on the cause of the sleep disordered breathing.
We offer a web based assessment of your child that includes an explanation of what we find and what to do about it. This might include home exercises or therapy, referral to another practitioner that is specific to his/her needs, or an oral appliance. For more information or to schedule a web based assessment, email us at the following address: Office@StructuralMed.com
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