Sleep Disordered Breathing is a Risk for Development of Deficit in Memory in Preschool Children

Background: It is known that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children is a risk for development of deficit in executive abilities, specifically in sustained attention and working memory. However, we need to do further research for revealing specific relationship between SDB and deficit in executive abilities.

Objective: The goal of this research was to examine the hypothesis that children with SDB have a deficit in memory in delayed recall condition.

Methods: The experimental group included 18 children with SDB (mean age 6.12±1.32 years, 13 boys and 5 girls). The control group included 18 typically developing children. The children from experimental and control group were matched for gender and age.

Children from both groups were assessed with Memory for Names subtest from NEPSY. This subtest is designed to assess the ability to learn and recall the names in immediate and delayed recall conditions. ANOVA with repeated measures was used to reveal group differences in reproducing the names in immediate and delayed recall conditions.

Results: We have not revealed significant differences (p≤0.05) between children from experimental and control group in reproducing the names in immediate condition. However, the interaction of condition type and group was significant [F(1,32)=10,56]. Children with SDB were less successful in reproducing the names in delayed recall condition in comparison to children from control group.

Conclusions: In view of the obtained results it can be assumed that sleep disordered breathing is a risk for development of the specific (not global) deficit in executive abilities. However, we need to do further research to confirm this hypothesis.