Sleep apnea isn’t just an adult problem.

Long known for causing a number of maladies such as daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, and heart and liver problems, new findings by University of Chicago researchers show that children who suffer from sleep apnea may also have problems with attention, memory and language.

The study followed more than 1,300 children between the ages of 5 and 7. Some suffered from varying degrees of sleep apnea while others showed no signs of the condition. The children were grouped based on their sleep apnea severity. Each of them completed sleep assessment questionnaires, an overnight sleep study and language and cognition tests. The findings were presented at the recent American Thoracic Society Conference.

The findings showed that snoring, even if not very severe, has a negative effect on memory and language. The lead author said that while evidence suggesting a link between sleep apnea and learning deficits has been shown before, the new findings are the first to address that relationship with a large-scale study.

The researchers anticipate the findings will help with the development of better cognitive tests for children diagnosed with sleep apnea in order to guide the treatment process.

Sleep apnea symptoms in children include snoring loudly on a regular basis, having gasps or pauses that wake them, and general restlessness while they sleep. If you suspect your child has sleep apnea, contact a pediatrician for an evaluation and to discuss treatment options.

If your child isn’t sleeping well at night, it could easily affect their cognition.