Pediatric Sleep Medicine

Yale Medicine sleep medicine experts at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital assess and manage infants, toddlers and adolescents with sleep problems.

Our sleep medicine providers are board-certified in pediatrics and sleep medicine; most are board-certified in pediatric pulmonology as well.

For sleep concerns, children from infancy through college-age may be referred for an evaluation or an initial consultation with a pediatric sleep physician. Our providers meet with patients and their families at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Pediatric Specialty Centers in New Haven, Norwalk, Old Saybrook and Trumbull.

Some children may benefit from overnight polysomnography (sleep testing) at one of our Sleep Centers to further define the causes of their sleep disturbance. Pediatricians may also refer directly for polysomnography. Our Sleep Centers have state-of-the-art equipment where children receive comprehensive care in a warm, child-friendly environment. The studies are supervised by highly trained physicians and technologist who are experts in diagnosing a wide variety of pediatric sleep disorders.

Conditions We Treat

We diagnose and treat pediatric patients with the following symptoms and conditions:

Non-respiratory sleep issues:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Insomnia, including difficulties falling asleep or awakenings at night
• Narcolepsy
• Restless leg syndrome
• Sleep disturbance including sleep walking, night terrors, nightmares and bedwetting

Respiratory sleep issues:

• Suspected obstructive sleep apnea with snoring, noisy breathing, disrupted sleep and daytime sleepiness and/or attention problems
• Determination of respiratory needs for oxygen and ventilator support
• Medical conditions with increased risk for respiratory issues; Down Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Apnea due to prematurity, RDS.
• Pre- and post-operative evaluation for scoliosis, spina bifida, cleft palate and other neurosurgical and craniofacial disorders
• Positive Airway Pressure titration including continuous (CPAP), Bi-Level (BiPAP) and other modalities
• Respiratory complications of neuromuscular disease

Overnight Sleep Studies

Overnight sleep studies are offered at our Sleep Centers at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital in New Haven and Bridgeport, as well as Greenwich Hospital.

During a sleep study (polysomnography), monitoring equipment will record important body functions during sleep such as heart rhythm, brain waves and muscle activity, eye movement, oxygen levels and breathing. The data is analyzed by sleep physicians and then sent to the referring doctor along with recommendations for treatment.

Sleep Centers are staffed by registered polysomnographic technologists who are specially trained to make children feel comfortable. They are also experienced in helping kids with developmental difficulties. If a child may benefit from a visit to the Sleep Center prior to the study, our team will help arrange this. Sleeping accommodations are available for one parent for the overnight study. We encourage children to bring a favorite toy or blanket for comfort.

Physicians may refer directly to the sleep laboratory by calling 203-688-1240.