My little one has Prader-Willi Syndrome. What specific things should I know about his sleep?
Children with Prader-Willi syndrome can feel very hungry, which can lead to over eating and becoming overweight, although many have failure to thrive as infants. Those who are overweight, as well as those with weak muscle tone, are at increased risk of developing a sleep disorder called sleep apnoea, which involves pauses in breathing during sleep. If growth hormone is being considered, it is recommended that all children with Prader-Willi are assessed for sleep apnoea before starting treatment.
Sleep apnoea is associated with daytime tiredness – which can encourage someone to lead a sedentary lifestyle. This can lead to weight gain which doesn’t help with the sleep apnoea.
There are effective treatments for both sleep apnoea and excessive daytime sleepiness – so please do talk to your health care provider about your child’s sleep and tiredness.
About Dr. Alice Gregory
