- Snoring, noisy breathing, pauses in breathing, choking, gasping or coughing when sleeping
- Broken sleep, restlessness, limb movements
- Leg pains in the night
- Mouth breathing
- Reflux
- Dry mouth, waking to drink water
- Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting, frequent waking to go to toilet)
- Night terrors, nightmares
- Brain fog, memory loss
- Daytime fatigue
- Irritability, mood disorders
- Increased risk of stroke and high blood pressure
- Teeth clenching/grinding
- Morning headaches
OFM works to improve the tone and position of the tongue and pharyngeal muscles to prevent them becoming airway obstructions. It also aims to close the lips and breath exclusively through the nose to optimise oxygen intake.
Children with SDB or OSA symptoms are at higher risk of behavioural and learning difficulties – symptoms can be similar to ADHD. They may suffer daytime fatigue, be hard to rouse in the mornings, be ‘tired but wired’ and show hyperactive behaviour, and experience low concentration and focus. Snoring in children should never be considered normal. Any pauses in breathing during sleep may lead to a drop in oxygen saturation and thus oxygen deprivation to growing brains.