Revista Psicopedagogia
Print version ISSN 0103-8486
Abstract
RAMOS, Alice de Souza; FERNANDES, Ana Elisa Ribeiro and ALVES, Luciana Mendonça. Neuropsychological deficits in children with sleep apnea: A literature review. Rev. psicopedag. [online]. 2024, vol.41, n.125, pp.397-412. Epub Sep 13, 2024. ISSN 0103-8486. https://doi.org/10.51207/2179-4057.20240032.
This study aimed to conduct a bibliographical review on neuropsychological deficits in children with sleep apnea. An integrative review on theoretical literature was used to achieve the purpose, analyzing, thereby, specific literature from the last ten years describing neuropsychological aspects of children with sleep apnea. Database consulted were: LILACS and other databases through Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde, MEDLINE through PubMed”, “Portal CAPES”, “PEDro” and “OTseeker”. The sample has 21 selected articles, selected from a population of 219 articles found on the databases. Randomized clinical trials, bibliographical reviews, cross- sectional and cohort studies were included. Both Redundant publications or articles that did not specify for age or focused on comorbidities were not considered. Most of the surveys evidenced the existence of neuropsychological changes related to sleep disturbance, which could cause difficulties at paying attention. Memorization and visual motor, speech and executive functions were compromised. Pathogenesis of comorbidities related to obstructive sleep apnea are caused by hypoxemia and sleep interruptions. Surgery is the main medical intervention mentioned in the literature, since there was no other research so far exploring other possibilities to solve these neuropsychological deficits. Articles indicate that sleep apnea can cause neuropsychological deficits on attention, memory, and executive functions. In addition, these articles suggests that this situation could be softened with proper treatment, although prognosis and diagnosis data need further evidence.
Keywords : Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Neuropsychology; Diagnosis; Child.