Sleep Apnea Clinic

In partnership with Connecticut Children’s Sleep Center, the Sleep Apnea Clinic diagnoses and treats children affected by sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing while they are sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea means something is blocking, or obstructing, the upper airway.

Potential consequences of untreated sleep apnea in children include cardiovascular, neurobehavioral, endocrine and metabolic problems. Untreated sleep apnea can even impact a child’s learning, development, and overall quality of life. These effects could last well into adulthood without proper treatment.

What to Expect at the Sleep Apnea Clinic

At your initial appointment, our Sleep Apnea Clinic specialists will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your child. Each of our three specialists will meet with you and your child for about 20 minutes each. Be prepared to spend up to 90 minutes in the clinic.

During your appointment, our specialists will review treatment options and develop a coordinated care plan. We will call you within 24 hours if we are unable to provide you with a management plan before you leave. You will be provided an opportunity to ask questions.

Your child may undergo an endoscopic evaluation of their upper breathing passages. This is a very simple procedure that causes little to no discomfort. No special preparation is required for this procedure prior to the visit. The procedure allows the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon to see inside the breathing passages and plan treatment that is likely to improve or resolve sleep apnea.

Conditions We Treat

Our pediatric ENT and sleep medicine experts specialize in evaluating and treating conditions such as:

• Persisting sleep apnea that has not resolved after tonsil surgery
• Sleep apnea that is not caused by large tonsils
• Sleep apnea in children with complex medical problems

Please contact your child’s primary care provider for more information.