@article{ref1,
title="Risk for sleep-disordered breathing and executive function in preschoolers",
journal="Sleep Medicine",
year="2008",
author="Karpinski, Aryn C. and Scullin, Matthew H. and Montgomery-Downs, Hawley E.",
volume="9",
number="4",
pages="418-424",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing is known to negatively impact cognitive development. While a theoretical basis has been proposed for the developmental effect of pediatric sleep-disordered breathing on executive function specifically, this had not been directly examined among preschool-age children. This population may be particularly vulnerable if school-readiness is compromised. The purpose of the current study was to use a multi-dimensional approach to assessing executive function among preschool-age children at risk for sleep-disordered breathing. METHODS: Thirty-nine preschool children were administered executive function tasks assessing the dimensions of inhibition, working memory, and planning as part of a larger study. A parent or guardian completed a validated questionnaire concerning the child's snoring and other behaviors indicating risk for sleep-disordered breathing. RESULTS: After controlling for age in a series of regressions, higher parent-reported risk for sleep-disordered breathing was associated with substantially lower performance on each executive function dimension. In comparing the group means of children at high and low risk for sleep-disordered breathing, the single snoring frequency item also showed that children who snored frequently or almost always had lower performance on each executive function dimension. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that sleep-disordered breathing may be associated with impaired executive function in preschoolers, with its strongest impact on the inhibition dimension, further emphasizing the importance of early intervention for sleep-disordered breathing in this early age group.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1389-9457",
doi="10.1016/j.sleep.2007.06.004",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2007.06.004"
}