Snoring In Children Is Dangerous According To New Study in Sleep Medicine.

A new study (PubMed abstract below) showed that even snoring (Primary Snoring = PS) is dangerous in children and like sleep apnea can lead to "behavioral, attention, and executive function difficulties are present in children with PS as well as OSAS. These results have implications for the treatment of milder forms of SDB, particularly PS, which is commonly viewed as benign."

Snoring in children can no longer be considered benign and should be carefully evaluated as it can affect a childs ability to learn and succeed.

Sleep Med. 2011 Mar;12(3):222-9. Epub 2011 Feb 15.
Neurobehavioral function is impaired in children with all severities of sleep disordered breathing.
Bourke RS, Anderson V, Yang JS, Jackman AR, Killedar A, Nixon GM, Davey MJ, Walker AM, Trinder J, Horne RS.
Source

Critical Care and Neuroscience Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in children and ranges in severity from primary snoring (PS), to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). This study investigated everyday function (behavior, attention, executive skills) in children with varying degrees of SDB and control children with no history of SDB recruited from the community.
METHODS:

One hundred thirty-six children aged 7-12 were studied. Routine overnight polysomnography (PSG) classified children into 4 groups: PS (n=59), mild OSAS (n=24), moderate/severe OSAS (n=18), and controls (n=35). Behavioral function and behavioral aspects of attention and executive function were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF).
RESULTS:

Children with all severities of SDB had significantly higher rates of total, internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems compared to control children. Increased rates of behavioral executive dysfunction were also found across the SDB spectrum.
CONCLUSION:

Our findings suggest that behavioral, attention, and executive function difficulties are present in children with PS as well as OSAS. These results have implications for the treatment of milder forms of SDB, particularly PS, which is commonly viewed as benign.