Skip to main content

Neurocognitive Function and Learning in Children with Sleep-Disordered Breathing

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM))

Abstract

Developmental neuropsychologists address cognitive, behavioral, and emotional disorders within an integrated model or a developmental brain–behavior paradigm embedded in an extrinsically and intrinsically dynamic environment. Yet despite the abundance of studies aiming at the understanding of a variety of brain–behavior disorders, and their treatment, the vast majority of such studies focuses on daytime behavior, that is, as a start point and as an end point. Hence, the impact of disrupted sleep in the developing child is tremendously underrated. Mental processing difficulties and executive dysfunctioning, for especially verbal material, suggestively form the sleep disordered breathing profile, yet few studies have reached a level of evidence succinct to funnel studies or practice, and a clear need for them is evident. Thus, sleep in a child is a public health issue of utmost importance and healthcare providers should always reflect on sleep.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Assessing planning, logical thinking, social knowledge.

  2. 2.

    Assessing visual analysis and construction of objects.

  3. 3.

    Visual–motor quickness, concentration, and persistence.

References

  1. Jan JE, Reiter RJ, Bax MC, et al. Long-term sleep disturbances in children: a cause of neuronal loss. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2010;14(5):380–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Pilcher JJ, Huffcutt AI. Effects of sleep deprivation on performance: a meta-analysis. Sleep. 1996;19(4): 318–26.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cirelli C. Cellular consequences of sleep deprivation in the brain. Sleep Med Rev. 2006;10(5):307–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Beebe DW. Neurobehavioral morbidity associated with disordered breathing during sleep in children: a comprehensive review. Sleep. 2006;29(9):1115–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. O’Brien LM. The neurocognitive effects of sleep disruption in children and adolescents. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(4):813–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Reynolds CR, Janzen EF, editors. Handbook of child clinical neuropsychology. New York: Plenum; 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Graven S. Sleep and brain development. Clin Perinatol. 2006;33(3):693–706. vii.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bruni O, Novelli L, Miano S, et al. Cyclic alternating pattern: a window into pediatric sleep. Sleep Med. 2010;11(7):628–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Spruyt K, Gozal D. Development of pediatric sleep questionnaires as diagnostic or epidemiological tools: a brief review of dos and don’ts. Sleep Med Rev. 2011;15(1):7–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Spruyt K, Gozal D. Pediatric sleep questionnaires as diagnostic or epidemiological tools: a review of currently available instruments. Sleep Med Rev. 2011;15(1):19–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Weissbluth M, Davis AT, Poncher J, Reiff J. Signs of airway obstruction during sleep and behavioral, developmental, and academic problems. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1983;4(2):119–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Simonds JF, Parraga H. Sleep behaviors and disorders in children and adolescents evaluated at psychiatric clinics. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1984;5(1):6–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Stradling JR, Thomas G, Warley AR, et al. Effect of adenotonsillectomy on nocturnal hypoxaemia, sleep disturbance, and symptoms in snoring children. Lancet. 1990;335(8684):249–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rhodes SK, Shimoda KC, Waid LR, et al. Neurocognitive deficits in morbidly obese children with obstructive sleep apnea. J Pediatr. 1995;127(5): 741–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ali NJ, Pitson D, Stradling JR. Sleep disordered breathing: effects of adenotonsillectomy on behaviour and psychological functioning. Eur J Pediatr. 1996; 155(1):56–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Harvey JMM, O’Callaghan MJ, Wales PD, et al. Six-month follow-up of children with obstructive sleep apnoea. J Paediatr Child Health. 1999;35(2):136–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Owens J, Spirito A, Marcotte A, et al. Neuropsychological and behavioral correlates of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children: a preliminary study. Sleep Breath. 2000;4(2):67–77.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Archbold KH, Giordani B, Ruzicka DL, Chervin RD. Cognitive executive dysfunction in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing. Biol Res Nurs. 2004;5(3):168–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Blunden S, Lushington K, Kennedy D, et al. Behavior and neurocognitive performance in children aged 5–10 years who snore compared to controls. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2000;22(5):554–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kennedy JD, Blunden S, Hirte C, et al. Reduced neurocognition in children who snore. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2004;37(4):330–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lewin DS, Rosen RC, England SJ, Dahl RE. Preliminary evidence of behavioral and cognitive sequelae of obstructive sleep apnea in children. Sleep Med. 2002;3(1):5–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Friedman BC, Hendeles-Amitai A, Kozminsky E, et al. Adenotonsillectomy improves neurocognitive function in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep. 2003;26(8):999–1005.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kurnatowski P, Putynski L, Lapienis M, Kowalska B. Neurocognitive abilities in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2006;70(3):419–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kaemingk KL, Pasvogel AE, Goodwin JL, et al. Learning in children and sleep disordered breathing: findings of the Tucson Children’s Assessment of Sleep Apnea (TuCASA) Prospective Cohort Study. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2003;9(7):1016–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gottlieb DJ, Chase C, Vezina RM, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing symptoms are associated with poorer cognitive function in 5-year-old children. J Pediatr. 2004;145(4):458–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Emancipator JL, Storfer-Isser A, Taylor HG, et al. Variation of cognition and achievement with sleep-disordered breathing in full-term and preterm children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160(2):203–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. O’Brien LM, Tauman R, Gozal D. Sleep pressure correlates of cognitive and behavioral morbidity in snoring children. Sleep. 2004;27(2):279–82.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Montgomery-Downs HE, O’Brien LM, Holbrook CR, Gozal D. Snoring and sleep-disordered breathing in young children: subjective and objective correlates. Sleep. 2004;27(1):87–94.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Montgomery-Downs HE, Gozal D. Snore-associated sleep fragmentation in infancy: mental development effects and contribution of secondhand cigarette smoke exposure. Pediatrics. 2006;117(3):e496–502.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Honaker SM, Gozal D, Bennett J, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing and verbal skills in school-aged community children. Dev Neuropsychol. 2009;34(5): 588–600.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Spruyt K, Capdevila OS, Kheirandish-Gozal L, Gozal D. Inefficient or insufficient encoding as potential primary deficit in neurodevelopmental performance among children with OSA. Dev Neuropsychol. 2009;34(5):601–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kheirandish L, Gozal D. Neurocognitive dysfunction in children with sleep disorders. Dev Sci. 2006;9(4):388–99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. O’Brien LM, Holbrook CR, Mervis CB, et al. Sleep and neurobehavioral characteristics of 5- to 7-year-old children with parentally reported symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics. 2003;111(3):554–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. O’Brien LM, Mervis CB, Holbrook CR, et al. Neurobehavioral correlates of sleep-disordered breathing in children. J Sleep Res. 2004;13(2):165–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kheirandish-Gozal L, De Jong MR, Spruyt K, et al. Obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with impaired pictorial memory task acquisition and retention in children. Eur Respir J. 2010;36(1):164–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Gozal D, Crabtree VM, Capdevila OS, et al. C-reactive protein, obstructive sleep apnea, and cognitive dysfunction in school-aged children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007;176(2):188–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Carvalho LBC, Prado LF, Siva L, et al. Cognitive dysfunction in children with sleep-disordered breathing. J Child Neurol. 2005;20(5):400–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Spruyt K, O’Brien LM, Cluydts R, et al. Odds, prevalence and predictors of sleep problems in school-age normal children. J Sleep Res. 2005;14(2):163–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Giordani B, Hodges EK, Guire KE, et al. Neuropsychological and behavioral functioning in children with and without obstructive sleep apnea referred for tonsillectomy. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2008;14(4):571–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Kohler MJ, Lushington K, van den Heuvel CJ, et al. Adenotonsillectomy and neurocognitive deficits in children with sleep disordered breathing. PLoS One. 2009;4(10):e7343.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Calhoun SL, Mayes SD, Vgontzas AN, et al. No relationship between neurocognitive functioning and mild sleep disordered breathing in a community sample of children. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(3):228–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Beebe DW, Wells CT, Jeffries J, et al. Neuropsychological effects of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2004;10(7):962–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Beebe DW, Gozal D. Obstructive sleep apnea and the prefrontal cortex: towards a comprehensive model linking nocturnal upper airway obstruction to daytime cognitive and behavioral deficits. J Sleep Res. 2002; 11(1):1–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Guilleminault C, Eldridge FL, Simmons FB, Dement WC. Sleep apnea in eight children. Pediatrics. 1976;58(1):23–30.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Ferreira AM, Clemente V, Gozal D, et al. Snoring in Portuguese primary school children. Pediatrics. 2000;106(5):E64.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Richards W, Ferdman RM. Prolonged morbidity due to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children. Clin Pediatr. 2000;39(2):103–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Gozal D, Pope Jr DW. Snoring during early childhood and academic performance at ages thirteen to fourteen years. Pediatrics. 2001;107(6):1394–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Brunetti L, Rana S, Lospalluti ML, et al. Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a cohort of 1,207 children of Southern Italy. Chest. 2001; 120(6):1930–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Goodwin JL, Babar SI, Kaemingk KL, et al. Symptoms related to sleep-disordered breathing in white and Hispanic children: the Tucson Children’s Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study. Chest. 2003;124(1):196–203.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Mulvaney SA, Goodwin JL, Morgan WJ, et al. Behavior problems associated with sleep disordered breathing in school-aged children—the Tucson children’s assessment of sleep apnea study. J Pediatr Psychol. 2006;31(3):322–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Goodwin JL, Kaemingk KL, Fregosi RF, et al. Clinical outcomes associated with sleep-disordered breathing in Caucasian and Hispanic children—the Tucson Children’s Assessment of Sleep Apnea study (TuCASA). Sleep. 2003;26(5):587–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Urschitz MS, Eitner S, Guenther A, et al. Habitual snoring, intermittent hypoxia, and impaired behavior in primary school children. Pediatrics. 2004;114(4): 1041–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Urschitz MS, Guenther A, Eggebrecht E, et al. Snoring, intermittent hypoxia and academic performance in primary school children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;168(4):464–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Urschitz MS, Wolff J, Sokollik C, et al. Nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation and academic performance in a community sample of children. Pediatrics. 2005;115(2):e204–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Giordani B, Chervin RD. Sleep-disordered breathing and neurobehavioral outcomes: in search of clear markers for children at risk. JAMA. 2008;299(17):2078–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Montgomery-Downs HE, Jones VF, Molfese VJ, Gozal D. Snoring in preschoolers: associations with sleepiness, ethnicity, and learning. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2003;42(8):719–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Arman AR, Ersu R, Save D, et al. Symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in children with habitual snoring: evidence from a community-based study in Istanbul. Child Care Health Dev. 2005;31(6):707–17.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Sogut A, Altin R, Uzun L, et al. Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and associated symptoms in 3–11-year-old Turkish children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2005;39(3):251–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Barnes ME, Huss EA, Garrod KN, et al. Impairments in attention in occasionally snoring children: an event-related potential study. Dev Neuropsychol. 2009; 34(5):629–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Key APF, Molfese DL, O’Brien L, Gozal D. Sleep-disordered breathing affects auditory processing in 5–7-year-old children: evidence from brain recordings. Dev Neuropsychol. 2009;34(5):615–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Molfese VJ, Molfese PJ, Molfese DL, et al. Executive function skills of 6–8 year olds: brain and behavioral evidence and implications for school achievement. Contemp Educ Psychol. 2010;35(2):116–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Guilleminault C, Korobkin R, Winkle R. A review of 50 children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Lung. 1981;159(5):275–87.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Gozal D. Sleep-disordered breathing and school performance in children. Pediatrics. 1998;102(3 I):616–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Prior M, Smart D, Sanson A, Oberklaid F. Relationships between learning difficulties and psychological problems in preadolescent children from a longitudinal sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1999; 38(4):429–36.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. O’Connell A, Vannan K. Sleepwise: addressing sleep disturbance in young children with developmental delay. Aust Occup Ther J. 2008;55(3):212–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Karpinski AC, Scullin MH, Montgomery-Downs HE. Risk for sleep-disordered breathing and executive function in preschoolers. Sleep Med. 2008;9(4):418–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Blunden S, Lushington K, Lorenzen B, et al. Neuropsychological and psychosocial function in children with a history of snoring or behavioral sleep problems. J Pediatr. 2005;146(6):780–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen Spruyt PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Spruyt, K. (2012). Neurocognitive Function and Learning in Children with Sleep-Disordered Breathing. In: Kheirandish-Gozal, L., Gozal, D. (eds) Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children. Respiratory Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-725-9_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-725-9_33

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-724-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-725-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics