Is Your Child Struggling to Breathe at Night? Understanding UARS and What It Means for Your Family

When we think of sleep disorders, snoring or sleep apnea often come to mind. But there's another condition that can quietly disrupt your child’s health and development: Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). While less talked about, UARS can have a significant impact on your child’s sleep, behavior, growth, and even jaw development — and it’s often hiding in plain sight.

Let’s explore what UARS is, how it affects your child’s breathing and sleep, and why things like mouth breathing and jaw structure matter more than you might think.

What Is UARS?

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome is a sleep-related breathing disorder that occurs when a child’s airway is partially blocked during sleep. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, where breathing stops entirely, UARS causes increased resistance in the upper airway — making it harder for your child to breathe in smoothly while asleep.

Image Courtesy My Sleep Device (https://mysleepdevice.com/uars-upper-airway-resistance-syndrome/)

This resistance doesn’t usually trigger loud snoring or gasping, so it’s easy to miss. However, the body still reacts. Your child might partially wake up dozens (or even hundreds) of times a night, which can prevent them from reaching deep, restful sleep.

Common Signs of UARS in Children

Because the symptoms of UARS are subtle and often misdiagnosed, parents may first notice signs that seem unrelated to breathing:

• Frequent night wakings or restlessness

• Night sweats or bedwetting

• Difficulty waking in the morning or chronic fatigue

• Mood swings, irritability, or anxiety

• Trouble concentrating, fidgeting, or symptoms resembling ADHD

• Dark circles under the eyes (“allergic shiners”)

• Daytime mouth breathing or dry lips

• Small, narrow jaws or crowded teeth

Sound familiar? These can all be clues that something’s not quite right with how your child is sleeping — and breathing.

How Mouth Breathing, Retracted Jaws, and Poor Sleep Interact

UARS doesn’t just happen in a vacuum, and it often shows up alongside a cluster of issues, primarily involving jaw and facial development.

🫁 Mouth Breathing:

Children with UARS often breathe through their mouths, especially at night. While it might seem harmless, chronic mouth breathing can actually worsen airway resistance and change the way a child’s face and jaw develop.

🦷 Retracted or Underdeveloped Jaws

When the upper or lower jaw is too small or set back, it limits the space available for the tongue and soft tissues. This crowds the airway, making it harder to breathe — especially when lying down. The result? More airway resistance and greater chances of UARS.

😴 Interrupted Sleep = Impacted Growth

When a child doesn’t get enough deep sleep due to constant micro-arousals from breathing difficulty, it can disrupt growth hormones, affect cognitive function, and leave them in a state of chronic stress.

This isn’t just about sleep — it’s about development, learning, and long-term health.

What Can Parents Do?

If you suspect your child might be dealing with UARS, the first step is noticing the patterns. Trust your instincts. If something feels “off” about your child’s sleep or daytime behavior, it’s worth exploring further.

Here are a few steps you can take:

• Track sleep patterns – Keep a journal of symptoms or behaviors.

• Observe their breathing – Is your child breathing through their mouth, especially at night?

• Look at facial development – Narrow jaws, receded chins, or crowded teeth can all be indicators.

• Schedule a sleep evaluation – A professional sleep study can help detect subtle disruptions and confirm a diagnosis of UARS.

• Consult with a sleep specialist – Experts like the team at CSMA can help assess breathing, sleep quality, and airway structure and refer you to orthodontic or ENT support if needed.

Early Intervention Makes a Lifelong Difference

The good news? UARS is treatable — and often preventable. With the right care team and early intervention, you can help your child breathe more easily, sleep better, and thrive in ways that extend far beyond bedtime.

At Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates, we specialize in uncovering the root causes of pediatric sleep issues — from airway resistance to developmental concerns. If you’re ready to get answers and help your child breathe easy, we’re here to help.

Don’t wait for the symptoms to “grow out of it.” If your child is showing signs of poor sleep or breathing difficulties, schedule an appointment with our compassionate sleep team today.

👉 Visit csma.clinic or call us to learn more.