You Snore. Your Bed Partner says you keep him/her up all night. How bad do you really snore?
Take this snore score test from the AWAKE group and see how you rate with other snorers.
Test and Information found below from http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/snorescore.html.

WHAT’S YOUR SNORE SCORE?
Your answers to this quiz will help you decide whether you may suffer from sleep apnea:

Are you a loud and/or regular snorer?
 Yes  No

Have you ever been observed to gasp or stop breathing during sleep?
 Yes  No

Do you feel tired or groggy upon awakening, or do you awaken with a headache?
 Yes  No

Are you often tired or fatigued during the wake time hours?
 Yes  No

Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving?
 Yes  No

Do you often have problems with memory or concentration?
 Yes  No

If you have one or more of these symptoms you are at higher risk for having obstructive sleep apnea. If you are also overweight, have a large neck, and/or have high blood pressure the risk increases even further.

If you or someone close to you answers “yes” to any of the above questions, you should discuss your symptoms with your physician or a sleep specialist. Or ask the American Sleep Apnea Association for more information on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. Different treatment options exist; which is right for you depends upon the severity of your apnea and other aspects of the disorder. Talk to your doctor about choices. Untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can be extremely serious and cannot be ignored.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, can help you choose Oral Appliance Therapy as a treatment option for your snoring and sleep apnea. Visit www.TiredofSnoring.com for more information or call our Naperville Sleep Office, 1-800-SNORING, to schedule your consultation and to sleep!

Just the other day, our own sleep coordinator and oral appliance user, Mary Ellen Hughes, was waiting at a red light at the corner of Washington St. and Ogden Ave. in Naperville.  The light turned green and the cars in the right lane continued to wait . . . and wait. . .   Until someone started beeping their horn.  Cars began to pull around a sedan.  As Mary Ellen pulled around she saw the lady inside jerk her head up, look around and begin to cry.  What happened?  We think the driver fell asleep at the wheel while waiting at the red light.  Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? 

Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Drowsy Driving!  The following 7 signs were found on the National Sleep Foundations website. 

1.      Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids

2.      Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts

3.      Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs

4.      Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes

5.      Trouble keeping your head up

6.      Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip

7.      Feeling restless and irritable

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year!!!

Visit the National Sleep Foundations Website for More information: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/

Are you wondering if  your Childs Snoring will affect his/her health?

All of  these questions are well documented and researched and the answers are more serious than you might think!!!

Snoring is a condition that may indicate a restricted air flow while sleeping.  In more severe cases it may indicate apnea.  This is a condition were breathing stops completely for many seconds before restarting.  Obstructive sleep apnea can be a life threatening condition.

If your child snores, they may have enlarged tonsils and adenoids.  They may also have a small mouth cavity.  The typical child may exhibit reduced daytime concentration or sleepiness.  Many are obese and show failure to thrive.  They may also have difficulty performing well in sports and activities.

Parents with children that exhibit these symptoms should have them screened.  Treatments include removal of tonsils and adenoids.  In other cases expansion of the palate and upper teeth with an oral appliance can help to increase the air space.  Snoring is not cute in children it may be an early warning sign of a more serious condition!  

Do you have more questions about your child’s snoring?  Call us today, 630 369-5225.  Dr. Lydia Sosenko, a General Family Dentist and Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the founder of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois with offices in Naperville, Illinois,  treats adults and children in cities and communities throughout the Chicagoland area, including Aurora, Plainfield, Oswego, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Wheaton, Batavia, and many other locations. 

For more information on childrens snoring on the internet, follow these links:

About.com Pediatrics:  http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/conditions/a/snoring.htm

Medical News Today: Dangers of Snoring in Children: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4257.php

CNN news/Health:  Snoring in Children May Indicate a Serious Problem  http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/parenting/04/01/snoring.kids/index.html