How Snoring May Lower Your Child's IQ

Sleep disorders pose an even greater threat to intellectual impairment in children than lead exposure, says a new study by the University of Virginia Health System.

Studying children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, researchers found that those who snored nightly scored significantly lower on vocabulary tests--a strong predictor of IQ--than those who did not. Snoring, in turn, disrupted sleep patterns necessary for healthy cognitive development. During the day, children who don't get a good night's sleep also tend to by hyper, inattentive and irritable, making them more likely to have learning and behavioral problems--and indeed a 2006 study showed that tonsillectomy eliminated hyperactive symptoms in many children.

Researchers now aim at identifying more risk factors for sleep-related intellectual impairment in children.

"One of our most recent studies found that kids who snore nightly and spend less time in bed score significantly lower on cognitive tests than children who snore less frequently and spend longer times in bed," said Dr. Paul M. Suratt, director of the UVa sleep laboratory. "We've also found that obstructive sleep disordered breathing (OSBD) occurs more often in African American children and, therefore, places them at greater risk of cognitive impairment."

Read more: Sleep Disorders Can Impair Children's IQs As Much As Lead Exposure