According to a new study, persistent and loud snoring in young children is associated with problem behaviours.
Researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found that young children who snore persistently may develop problem behaviours including hyperactivity, depression and inattention.
"The strongest predictors of persistent snoring were lower socioeconomic status and the absence or shorter duration of breastfeeding," Dr Beebe, director of the neuropsychology program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and lead author of the study said.
"This would suggest that doctors routinely screen for and track snoring, especially in children from poorer families, and refer loudly-snoring children for follow-up care. Failing to screen, or taking a 'wait and see' approach on snoring, could make preschool behaviour problems worse. The findings also support the encouragement and facilitation of infant breastfeeding," Beebe said in a statement.
Beebe and colleagues studied 249 children. The researchers surveyed the children's moms about their kids' sleep and behaviours.
The study showed that children who snored loudly at least twice a week at the age of 2 and 3 had more behaviour problems than children who either don't snore or who snored at 2 or 3 but not at both ages.
"A lot of kids snore every so often, and cartoons make snoring look cute or funny. But loud snoring that lasts for months is not normal, and anything that puts young kids at that much risk for behavioural problems is neither cute nor funny," Beebe said.
"That kind of snoring can be a sign of real breathing problems at night that are treatable. I encourage parents to talk to their child's doctor about loud snoring, especially if it happens a lot and persists over time," Beebe said.
Infant breastfeeding, especially over longer periods of time, seemed to protect children against persistent snoring, even after taking into account other factors, including family income.
The study was published in journal Pediatrics.
