Study on How Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affects Thinking and Empathy in Children Aged 3 to 12 Years Comparing Surgery and Medicine Treatments and Tracking Changes Over One Year

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how obstructive sleep apnea OSA affects executive function and empathy development in children aged 3 to 12 years. This observational study compares different treatmentssurgical and pharmacologicalfor children with mild OSA, while also exploring EEG biomarkers that may indicate neurological damage. The goal is to understand cognitive and emotional changes over a year and provide guidance for treatment choices. Children diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe OSA are grouped by disease severity and treatment type. Those with mild OSA receive either adenotonsillectomy surgery or conservative pharmacological treatment with nasal corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists. Children with moderate or severe OSA undergo adenotonsillectomy. A healthy control group without sleep disorders is included for comparison. Assessments occur at the start, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment or observation. Participants undergo behavioral tests, EEG recordings, and parent questionnaires to measure executive function, empathy, working memory, and sleep habits. Researchers track the Obstructive Apnea-Hypopnea Index and oxygen saturation during sleep to monitor disease severity. The study lasts 12 months, with evaluations at multiple points to observe changes and identify potential EEG signs of neurological impact in children with OSA.

Observational Study on the Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Executive Function and Empathy Development in Children