The stereotypical snorer is an overweight guy, sleeping on his back with his mouth open, rattling the windows with his snoring. It's not often you think of the noise coming from a child, but it does happen and can be a sign of something more serious - obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.

Children with OSA have trouble breathing when they're sleeping and snoring is a symptom of this. They are probably restless when they sleep, often to the point where their parents or caregivers get concerned and move or wake them to be sure they're okay.

When the child is awake, they can breathe fine with no difficulty, although they are often mouth-breathers. Children who snore often have someone in their immediate family who also suffer from snoring problems.

The first step in treating OSA and snoring in children is a sleep study, often followed by a polysomnography. This test will help to pinpoint the sleep disorder. It reads a combination of things including eye movement, heartbeat, respiration, and brain waves.

After testing, if a problem is found the most common outcome is surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids. This will help to clear the airway which generally ends the snoring and apnea problems.

It should be pointed out that not all kids who snore suffer from sleep apnea. Some children snore but don't show any signs of OSA. Obviously, if the tests show this to be the case there is no reason for surgery.

After surgery, it takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal and results of the surgery may not be obvious during the healing period. After the healing is complete, there will be a big difference in the child's snoring and breathing.

If your child is a snorer, consult a health care professional for their informed advice. They will be able to give you the appropriate recommendations and set up further tests if they feel it is necessary.