Sleep Disordered Breathing

Sleep disordered breathing describes a group of disorders that create breathing difficulties during sleep. Sleep Apnea, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, and Snoring.

Snoring and mouth breathing can be early signs of a sleeping disorder. Breathing through the mouth causes the jaw to open and move down and back and partially obstruct the airway. This also causes the tongue to fall into the airway space and create a breathing obstruction.

Identification and Correction

Identifying and correcting myofunctional disorders in children prior to completion of jaw and facial growth is key to preventing sleep disordered breathing in adulthood. The four goals of therapy can improve sleep disordered breathing.

Recent studies have shown that myofunctional therapy decreases the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children, improves daytime sleepiness and improves snoring.