The largest sleep lab in Qatar at Sidra Medicine has been designed to make the children as comfortable as possible, as if the children are going to sleep in their own beds at home. But it is dedicated to diagnosing, managing, and treating sleep-related disorders in children.
Good sleep is important for a child, no matter if they are a baby, a toddler or a teenager. A sound sleep helps the child’s physical and mental growth and development.
That’s why young children spend 40 percent of their childhood sleeping. But if your child is struggling to get enough sleep properly — whether it’s at night or during naps — it is recommended to check the underlying issues. Sometimes disorders like sleep apnea can cause problems such as behavioural challenges, slowed growth, and hormonal and metabolic issues.
The state-of-the-art six room sleep laboratory at Sidra Medicine addresses sleep issues in children and young people. It is equipped with the latest technologies including video and infrared monitoring to allow direct patient observation. The Lab has treated over 450 children since it was inaugurated.
“Children with sleep problems usually have underlying illnesses or conditions. Sometimes these issues can be behavior-based but many times, simple conditions like adenoids and large tonsils that might be overlooked, end up causing sleep issues in young children,” Professor Ibrahim Janahi, Division Chief of Pulmonology, whose department currently manages the Sleep Lab told The Peninsula.
“Our Sleep Disorders Program has been designed to restore a child’s normal sleep patterns. The care at our sleep lab includes providers who are specially trained in paediatric sleep medicine. Our team will assess your child’s condition and decide which clinic is best for your child’s sleep problems,” he added.
At Sidra Medicine, the child is cared by paediatric pulmonologists and those specially trained in paediatric sleep medicine. A strong team of sleep pulmonologists, physicians and technologists run the state-of-the-art Sleep Lab and address such sleep disorders. The lab works closely with departments such as pulmonology, ENT and neurology who refer patients for monitoring and observation.
Depending on the physician’s recommendation, the sleep study will be tailored to suit each child’s medical condition in line with international standards. The child’s movements are also recorded by video with infrared to ensure the safety of the child at all times.
“The Sleep Lab studies cases of obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep related respiratory disorders caused by a variety of airway diseases and conditions including large tonsils or adenoids. In addition, the sleep lab plays a critical role in studying non-respiratory sleep disorders as a result of neurological issues like central apneas or due to behavioral abnormalities,” said Dr Muna Maarafiya, Medical Director of the Sleep Lab at Sidra Medicine.
“The lab also performs polysomnograms, known as sleep studies, to record the child’s sleeping patterns. This includes monitoring brain waves by placing sensors on the head (EEG) as well as the use of respiratory monitoring equipment, with all signals being examined by overnight technologists from a computer in a separate control room,” she added.
Parents are encouraged to bring in their kids’ favourite night time story or toy to the Sleep Lab. They are also expected to be active participants during their children’s stay in the lab with one parent allowed to stay overnight. The Lab also has female technicians monitoring the lab so that female patients and/or mothers accompanying the child can feel comfortable.
All recordings and test results from the child’s sleep study are then analysed by the technologist and interpreted by the Sleep Lab team. Results are then discussed with the parents along with a treatment plan during a follow up appointment.
