does my child have sleep apnea quiz
sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can be associated with bedwetting, poor growth, hyperactivity, heart problems, and impaired mental function affecting their grades and includes the more serious condition of sleep apnea. ideally a special over-night sleep study test is conducted to diagnose SDB, but the good news is there is a simple screening questionnaire which is quite effective at detecting children at risk of sleep disordered breathing. The BEARS questionnaire is a useful pediatric tool in the detection of sleep disorders in children between 2 and 18 years of age. BEARS is a test’s acronym that prompts a clinician to inquire about five sleep items (b = bedtime problems, e = excessive daytime sleepiness, a = night awakenings, r = regularity and duration of sleep, s = sleep-disordered breathing or snoring). adapted from the BEARS sleep questionnaire, the quiz is designed to screen for major sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, night terrors, nightmares affecting children. The quiz can be finished in five minutes by each age group’s parents and their children. This online test is an informational tool – not for sleep disorders diagnosis purposes. But it can help you inform yourself and guide you toward the next steps. Again, your child’s doctor is the best source for diagnoses and treatments for sleep problems. Sleep disorders can pose serious health risks and it is important that you talk to your provider or pediatric sleep specialist.
