Pushpom James, MD, the region’s only pediatric pulmonologist board-certified in both pediatric pulmonology and pediatric sleep medicine, oversees the Clinic for Children with Sleep Problems at Lutheran Children's Hospital.
The pediatric and neonatal sleep studies programs at the clinic can diagnose and treat dozens of sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and other sleep problems sometimes misidentified as attention deficit disorder or ADD.
Symptoms of pediatric sleep disorders can include:
- Sleep apnea (a period of time when a child stops breathing)
- Cyanotic episodes (child turns blue)
- Narcolepsy (falls asleep during the day)
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Sleep walking
- Abnormal sleep schedules
- Frequent nightmares or terrors
- Growth failure or difficulty swallowing.
Children with syndromes such as Down's Syndrome and various craniofacial abnormalities are more prone to have sleep apnea. Some sleep problems that appear to be behavior issues can be corrected by helping a child get a good night's rest.
To schedule a sleep study for your child or for additional information, call:
- Lutheran Children's Hospital Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic at 877-435-KIDS (5437) or (260) 435-7123
- Lutheran Sleep Disorders Center at (260) 435-7403
