5. Daytime Fatigue: When Sleep Doesn’t Refresh
Here we are, at the most counterintuitive symptom of sleep apnea in children—daytime fatigue. While kids are generally known for their boundless energy, those with sleep apnea might display an uncharacteristic lack of energy during the day. It’s as if sleep, which is supposed to rejuvenate, leaves them more drained than before.
Fatigue is not just physical tiredness; it’s a draining of energy reserves that affects both body and mind. You might notice your child less engaged in activities they once loved or showing a reluctance to participate in physical games. This isn’t the usual childhood tiredness after a long day of play; it’s fatigue that sets in despite sufficient sleep time.
Sleep apnea messes with the architecture of sleep. During the night, when restorative processes should be at their peak, the constant interruptions cause the child to miss out on essential sleep stages, particularly the restorative phases like deep sleep and REM sleep. Consequently, the child wakes up feeling unrefreshed.
Children might not express this fatigue in ways you’d expect. They may not say they’re tired but could display irritability, mood swings, or even hyperactivity. The symptoms can masquerade as many things but looking at the larger picture, it’s often a side effect of disrupted sleep.(5)
