Pediatric Sleep Therapy Service

Our services include:

• Specialist consultations with personalized advice for behavioral sleep problems
• Diagnostic and treatment recommendations for children with suspected sleep-related breathing disorder
• Diagnostic overnight sleep study (polysomnography) 

What is Polysomnography?
Polysomnography (PSG) is a gold-standard sleep study used for diagnosing sleep-related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The test is conducted while the child is sleeping naturally and monitors multiple physiological indicators throughout the night, including:

• Brain waves
• Eye movements
• Snoring sounds
• Breathing patterns
• Chest and abdominal movement
• Blood oxygen saturation
• Muscle activity

In some cases, video recording is also used to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the child’s sleep behavior. These data points help determine whether the child has any breathing irregularities during sleep and if so, the severity of the condition, enabling doctors to design a personalized treatment plan.

To provide a comfortable experience for our guests, children undergoing an overnight sleep study are admitted to our private unit, where they receive round-the-clock monitoring by our professional and experienced medical team. The quiet environment helps children relax and fall asleep more easily, resulting in more accurate data for the sleep test.

OSA is one of the most common sleep disorders in children, and occurs when the upper airway becomes repeatedly obstructed (partially or completely) during sleep, which leads to pauses in breathing or reduced airflow. This disrupts sleep quality, prevents the body and brain from getting adequate rest, and ultimately affects cognitive performance and emotional stability.

Common symptoms of pediatric OSA include:

• Loud and frequent snoring
• Restless sleep, frequent tossing and turning
• Mouth breathing during sleep
• Night sweats
• Difficulty waking in the morning
• Headaches upon waking
• Poor concentration
• Sleepiness during the day
• Learning difficulties or behavioral problems
  
  Some daytime symptoms may resemble those of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as:
      Inattention
      Behavioral problems
      Irritability and mood swings

As the latter few symptoms are similar to those of ADHD, sleep issues are sometimes misdiagnosed or overlooked. If your child demonstrates signs of ADHD, it is important to evaluate their sleep quality in addition to pursuing neurodevelopmental assessment. Studies show that improving sleep quality may help alleviate some ADHD-like symptoms and support overall health and well-being.

Holistic Support from an Expert Team
The pediatrics department at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan is led by experienced pediatric specialists and supported by a professional care team and advanced diagnostic equipment. We are committed to providing safe, comfortable, and accurate sleep diagnosis and treatment services with the goal of helping every child achieve high-quality sleep, a vital foundation for physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

For enquiries or to book a pediatric sleep assessment, please contact us at 2275 6688.