Kids' sleep apnea may harm brain development, new study warns

NCT ID NCT06850220

First seen Feb 01, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 16 times

Summary

This study looks at how obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects thinking skills and empathy in children aged 3 to 12. Researchers will compare surgery versus medication for mild OSA and track changes over 12 months. They will also use EEG to find brain signals linked to sleep apnea damage. The goal is to understand how OSA impacts children's development and which treatment works best.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Children's Hospital of Soochow University

    RECRUITING

    Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215233, China

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to

If successful, this study could help doctors understand how sleep apnea affects children's thinking and emotions, and guide better treatment choices.

What could go wrong

This is an observational study, not a treatment trial, so it won't directly test a new therapy. Results may not apply to all children with sleep apnea.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.