Childhood snoring linked to learning difficulties: New Zealand-led study

Children who snore, or have other breathing problems while sleeping, are less likely to do well at school, according to a New Zealand-led study covering 12 countries.

The University of Otago-led study out Monday found that school- age boys and girls with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was significantly associated with poorer progress in learning literacy and numeracy skills.

The study recommended that screening for SDB should be included in assessments of children's learning difficulties, with appropriate medical follow-up.

"The findings were in the small to medium range in terms of discrepancy, but nevertheless they serve to highlight this issue to parents, teachers, and clinicians," lead author Associate Professor Barbara Galland said in a statement.

Children with SDB and who snored tended to have disturbed sleep and this in turn influenced behavior and attention-to-task, ultimately affecting learning.

Too little attention was paid in New Zealand to SDB and snoring in children, as parents sometimes viewed it as humorous rather than a sign of a potential health problem.

"However, there could be enlarged tonsils or adenoids, obesity can be a factor, or potentially orthodontic problems -- all of which can be addressed to varying degrees," said Galland.

More research was needed, particularly to understand which children were most at risk for academic difficulties associated with SDB, the contributors to their learning difficulties, and how they could be helped, she said. Endi