Skip to Site Navigation Memorial Health System | Memorial Hospital for Children | Foundation | PhysicianLink

Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center

Audio podcast interview Listen to the audio podcast interview: What You Should Know About Your Child's Sleep Disorder by Mohannad Mannaa, M.D. (.mp3/10:03)

Our Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center is nationally accredited by the American Association of Sleep Medicine and staffed by board certified/board eligible sleep medicine specialists and certified respiratory technicians and/or registered polysomnographers. We offer comprehensive assessment, treatment and extensive patient education of pediatric sleep disorders including:

  • Diagnostic Sleep Study PolySomnoGram (PSG) / PSG with full night Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), and ventilatory titration for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing including sleep apnea and hypoventilation syndrome
  • PSG with full seizure EEG for seizure disorders
  • Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), to diagnose narcolepsy
  • Pre- and post-sleep study consultations with a Sleep-Medicine-Fellowship trained specialist (contact your insurance provider to verify your coverage to see a specialist)
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) set up for those diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea
  • Follow-up program for patients using CPAP or BiPAP
  • CPAP Clinic for CPAP/BiPAP patients with questions or problems (this service is offered free of charge)

Signs and symptoms of pediatric sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is one of the most common disorders we treat in the Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic. Here are some of the signs and symptoms:

  • Snoring and breathing difficulty during sleep, especially when associated with bedwetting beyond age three; poor school performance; attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and/or a slow rate of growth/failure to thrive
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • More labored breathing (heavier, more difficult breathing)
  • Unusual sleep positions (e.g. hyperextended neck)
  • Cognitive and behavioral problems (e.g. aggressive behavior)
  • Morning headaches

The Sleep Study

Sleep studies require an overnight stay at the sleep center and are considered an out-patient visit by your insurance provider. After checking in, you’ll go to your private room. The room features a private bath, normal bed and cable TV. It looks more like a hotel room than a hospital room. Of course you are welcome to stay with your child.

Once you are settled in, a technician will more fully explain the procedure while preparing your child for the test. Electrodes are attached for data collection. The wires are long enough to allow your child to move around and turn over in bed. We have plenty of pillows and blankets, but feel free to bring your child’s favorite blanket, pillow or stuffed animal to make it feel more like home. Children may also read or watch TV until their normal bedtime. Your child is monitored throughout the night and you can page your technician at any time if there is anything you need. The study typically ends around 6:30 a.m., but we do not wake your child at a particular time unless you ask us to.

Test Results

A final report is ready in 7 to 10 days. We fax a copy to the referring physician and mail one to you. We encourage you to schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor to discuss the findings of the sleep study. If treatment is indicated, those options should be discussed at that time as well.

How to schedule an appointment

We conduct sleep studies every night of the week. Before we schedule your appointment, we need to have a copy of your doctor’s order. Your doctor can fax the order to us at 719-365-5465. Our scheduling office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Reach us by calling 719-365-6000 and selecting option 4.

Where we’re located

The Memorial Pediatric Sleep Disorder Center is located at 2502 E. Pikes Peak Avenue, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80909.