Neuropsychological morbidity linked to childhood sleep-disordered breathing

Understanding the long-term neuropsychological consequences of steep disorders in children poses a significant challenge to researchers. Since children are in a state of rapidly changing cognition and neurobehavioral function, impacts on development may have profound consequences. Recent studies now demonstrate that mild steep apnea and snoring, once considered within the spectrum of normal steep patterns, are associated with deficits of neuropsychological function. Preliminary data suggest that some of these cognitive deficits may be reversible following treatment of mild steep apnea in children; however, factors such as age at treatment, duration of steep disordered breathing, pre-morbid intellectual level, socioeconomic status, or the effectiveness of treatment may adversely affect long-term outcome. Furthermore, it is imperative that researchers determine whether the developing brain exhibits critical periods of plasticity during which episodes of steep-disordered breathing might cause long-term or permanent neuropsychological effects. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.