Pediatric Sleep Specialist

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What Is a Pediatric Sleep Specialist?

A pediatric sleep specialist is a doctor who, like a pediatrician, sees children and, like a sleep specialist, focuses on treating sleep disorders. Most pediatric sleep specialists are board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and they often have training in pulmonology. Board-certification shows that a doctor has demonstrated their expertise by passing a rigorous examination. Pulmonology is the study of the respiratory tract, and a knowledge of the subject matter is necessary to treat many sleep disorders.

Who Should Consider Seeing a Pediatric Sleep Specialist?

Any parent whose child exhibits possible signs of a sleeping disorder should consider taking their child to see a pediatric sleep specialist. Symptoms of sleeping disorders include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

• snoring
• difficulty falling and staying asleep
• twitching legs while falling asleep or sleeping
• waking up multiple times during the night
• sudden bouts of sleepiness during the day

Daytime drowsiness is another major symptom of many sleep disorders. Because sleep disorders make sleeping challenging, people who suffer from disorders are often tired during the day. If a child goes to bed at an appropriate time but still is tired during the day, parents may want to have them evaluated.

How Long Is an Appointment With a Pediatric Sleep Specialist?

An initial appointment with a pediatric sleep specialist usually lasts about as long as a standard doctor appointment. A first appointment typically involves taking a child’s vital signs, medical history, and family history. Then, the pediatric sleep specialist will usually discuss the child’s symptoms with the child and their parent. The doctor may also perform an exam. If any additional testing is necessary, it’s often scheduled for another appointment. Sometimes, children are sent home with an at-home sleep study apparatus the same day, but such studies are easy to complete at home and don’t significantly extend the length of a first appointment.

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