When a child has a sleep issue, whether due to night terrors, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy, the whole family suffers.
Specialists in pediatric sleep disorders at WMCHealth can diagnose and treat several sleep-related challenges. The Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Sleep Center has specialists in sleep medicine, pediatric pulmonology (doctors who treat breathing disorders, including those that occur in sleep), and pediatric psychology, as well as a state-of-the-art sleep laboratory.
Our team also includes specialists in neurology and ear, nose, and throat conditions. When you bring your child to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, our doctors will quickly determine the right path to help solve your child’s sleep struggles.
Why Choose Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital?
Sleep is vital to human development and growth. When children experience issues with sleep, it can impact them physically and emotionally. Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is one of a few sleep centers in the region capable of performing sleep studies on patients of all ages while accommodating parents as part of the overnight study. We have trained and experienced technicians and pediatric sleep specialists prepared to make you feel as close to home as possible while giving you the best sleep assessment for a proper diagnosis.
Our Approach
We know that caregivers sleep better when their children sleep better. Because sleep issues can start in different areas of the body, our whole-child approach begins with assessing where the problem stems from. As experts in sleep medicine, we understand what a poor night’s sleep can do to the body and mind of your growing child. Our sleep specialists and child psychologists can untangle mental health issues that can cause or be caused by sleep disorders.
Pediatric Sleep Conditions We Treat
Sleep disorders that are diagnosed and treated in the Sleep Center include:
- Central sleep apnea: With sleep apnea, the muscles that control breathing suddenly start or stop working during sleep, interrupting sleep and causing daytime symptoms like sleepiness, mood changes, and trouble focusing.
- Daytime sleepiness: Certain medications, conditions, or mental health concerns can cause excessive sleepiness during the day, which can interfere with mood, physical health, academic performance, and more.
- Hypoventilation disorders: Shallow breathing during sleep can lead to low oxygen or high carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
- Insomnia: Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, which can lead to daytime sleepiness and mental health issues.
- Narcolepsy: Children who are narcoleptic fall asleep rapidly and have a hard time staying awake for long periods.
- Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS): A partial or complete airway obstruction during sleep can cause pausing in breathing and snoring, diminishing the quality of sleep.
- Restless legs syndrome: Children with RLS have difficulty keeping still when at rest. Jerking or twitching movements in their legs (and sometimes arms) can disrupt sleep.
- Sleep disorders associated with ADHD, autism, and other neurodevelopmental disorders: Sometimes, sleep issues are caused by other conditions and medications. We can help pinpoint what is causing the disruption to sleep to assess the treatment plans for those conditions.
- Sleep terrors: Sleep terrors can cause uncontrollable fear, screaming, or crying. Sometimes, sleep terrors can lead to sleepwalking.
- Sleepwalking: Typically sleepwalking happens during periods of deep sleep. A person who is sleepwalking may also perform other complex body movements beyond walking.
Pediatric Sleep Services and Programs
The Sleep Laboratory
The sleep laboratory at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is a full-service sleep lab that helps diagnose many sleep disorders in children. Located in a private setting, the lab has four comfortable, private bedrooms (two pediatric and two adult), and a control room.
Pediatric Polysomnograms
A polysomnogram is a noninvasive sleep study. At Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, we can perform studies that are specific to your child’s needs, including:
- A standard overnight polysomnogram
- A polysomnogram that includes initiation and/or titration of CPAP or BiPAP
- A standard overnight polysomnogram followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)