In addition, children who suffer from sleep apnoea are sleep deprived and, when they do sleep, have poor quality sleep. Because of sleep deprivation and constant tiredness, they cannot maximize their potential in school and social settings. They often present with:
There are a few Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a sleep study are ways to test and quantify sleep apnea.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a self-administered, simple questionnaire that assesses the severity of ‘daytime sleepiness’ of a person who maybe suffering from sleep deprivation. It was first developed by Dr Murray Johns in 1990 and was named after the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne. The higher the score indicates a worse ‘daytime sleepiness’. Take the Epworth Sleepiness Test to find out!
An ESS score of:
6-9 = Mild Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
10-15 = Excessive daytime sleepiness, should seek medical attention
16 and above = VERY excessively sleepy – MUST seek medical attention
Sleep studies are the gold standard in diagnosing, recording, and quantifying the severity of sleep apnoea. As you sleep, many parameters are recorded during the sleep study. Hospital-based sleep studies are done under the supervision of a sleep technician and is costly. A home-based sleep study is done under the guidance of a sleep medicine dentist like Dr Elaine Ng, in the comfort of your bedroom, bringing the cost down significantly.
Familiar surroundings, the absence of being watched and hooked up to less machinery is a more natural setting to study your sleep patterns.
Are you worried that you or your bed partner may have sleep apnoea? Make an appointment with our Sleep Medicine Dentist, Dr Elaine Ng as soon as possible. Dr Elaine Ng offers comprehensive sleep screening, which includes clinical assessment, chairside diagnostics, and a home-based sleep apnoea test.
Your trusted partner for orthodontic excellence, crafting beautiful smiles with expertise, care, and the latest technology.
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