Does snoring in school-age children affect cognitive function? See the latest re

Is Snoring in Children a Disease?

Snoring during sleep in children is a typical symptom of ​obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), which may negatively impact growth and development. A recent study published in Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology evaluated the behavior, attention, and neurocognitive function of school-aged children with primary snoring.

​Study Methods

​Participants: 17 snoring children (aged 6–10) and 27 non-snoring controls.

​Assessments:

Polysomnography (PSG) to confirm snoring (OSAHS excluded).

Parent-reported sleep disorder scales.

Behavioral and attention assessments (Child Behavior Checklist, Conners Rating Scale).

Neuropsychological tests (Wechsler Intelligence Scale, NEPSY).

​Key Findings

​Behavior & Attention:

Parents reported ​more internalizing behaviors, overall problems, and attention issues in snoring children.

​Teachers did not observe significant behavioral differences.

​Cognitive Function:

​No IQ difference between groups.

​Similar core neurocognitive abilities, except for one visuospatial subtest.

​Sleep & Breathing:

Snoring children showed ​increased inspiratory effort and diaphragm activity.

​Daytime sleepiness was more frequently reported by parents.

​Longer snoring duration and lower oxygen saturation (SpO₂ <90%) correlated with attention problems and weaker language skills.

​Conclusion

​Snoring with increased respiratory effort (without apnea/hypopnea) may contribute to daytime symptoms.

​School-aged snorers are at higher risk for behavioral and attention issues but not cognitive impairment.

​Early evaluation and intervention are recommended to mitigate potential developmental impacts.