The Tucson Childrens Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study
Unlike adults, who tend to feel and act sleepy when they have sleep-related breathing problems, children with similar problems may become hyperactive. In fact, some children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder may have unrecognized sleep-disordered breathing.
This study, called TuCASA, is designed to determine the percentage of children who may be affected by sleep-disordered breathing, to assess the consequences of the disorder on their daytime function, and to study other physical problems that could be caused or worsened by sleep-disordered breathing.
In the first phase of the study, children ages 5 through 12 in 19 Tucson Unifed School District elementary schools answered a questionnaire. Over 500 of those children then underwent a sleep study in their home. They also underwent additional tests of brain function and respiratory characteristics. From these and other data, the researchers hope to help children and their parents identify and minimize problems related to sleep-related breathing problems. |
