Just as in adults, the only way to diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in children is to have them evaluated by a physician skilled in sleep disorders and to take part in a sleep study. We understand it can be scary for a child to sleep in a clinical lab all night, hooked up to monitors and surrounded by strangers. The TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit approaches things a little differently, offering FDA-approved at-home sleep tests instead.
It’s absolutely imperative to have a baseline study done before treatment of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea begins. The other side of that coin is to have a qualified doctor performing the exams, scans and tests. Luckily, we offer all that and more. As a parent, you want the best for your child. If you are concerned your child may have sleep apnea, the first step is getting help and obtaining a diagnosis. Everything will follow from there.
Once we have a better idea of how your child’s sleep apnea is happening, we can recommend treatment. It all starts with a free consultation, a home sleep study and a 3D scan in order for us to make the initial diagnosis. To get started, call Dr. Roman Sadikoff at the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit at (586) 949-2516.
The Process
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can only be diagnosed by a physician, and only after the child has had a sleep study. As we said above, your child can take an at-home sleep test, which is painless, safe, and covered by most insurance plans. In fact, many insurance companies now recommend home sleep tests be attempted first because they are more affordable, easier to conduct and have better accuracy.
Because children taking at-home sleeping tests can stay in their own natural environment, their sleep habits are more indicative of what they experience on a normal night.
Once we get the results of that test, we can move forward. This, in part, will provide a baseline for all further treatment. Our diagnostic workup is comprehensive. First, we review your child’s medical history in detail. Then, we perform a head and neck evaluation using the latest technology, such as 3D scans.
Proper diagnosis and emphasis on origin rather than solely on symptoms is vital in ensuring successful, long-term treatment results for your child. After we have developed a diagnosis for the cause of your child’s sleep disorder, we will recommend a non-surgical treatment plan for rehabilitation.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) masks are very cumbersome and even scary for a child to use. This is why we usually treat children with customized, 3D printed oral appliances that they can wear at night. These appliances adjust the positioning of the jaw while they slumber, and don’t entail any invasive masks, pumps and machines.
Contact the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit
Call the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Metro Detroit today at (586) 949-2516 to schedule a no-cost consultation for your child’s sleep apnea diagnosis in Southeast Michigan. We specialize in pediatric sleep disorders, treatment and evaluation.