Institute for Continuing Education

Infant and Pediatric Polysomnography

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the fundamental principles and technical requirements of polysomnography in infants and children, including age-specific modifications to standard adult protocols and scoring criteria as defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
• Identify and interpret normal sleep architecture and respiratory parameters across pediatric age groups, recognizing age-related variations in sleep stages, apnea indices, oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO2 values from neonates through adolescence.
• Apply current AASM scoring criteria to identify and classify sleep-disordered breathing events in pediatric patients, distinguishing between obstructive, central, and mixed apneas using age-appropriate duration and severity thresholds.
• Synthesize polysomnographic findings with clinical presentation to support the diagnosis and management of pediatric sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, and parasomnias.
• Recognize high-risk pediatric populations requiring polysomnographic evaluation, including infants with craniofacial abnormalities, children with genetic syndromes, and patients with neuromuscular disorders or obesity.
• Demonstrate knowledge of evidence-based treatment approaches for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, including adenotonsillectomy outcomes, positive airway pressure therapy, and post-operative follow-up recommendations.

Course Information

Before we begin discussing the intricacies of Neonatal EEG, let’s begin with a brief review of just what an EEG is and what information can be obtained from these studies.

A polysomnogram consists of a simultaneous recording of multiple physiologic parameters related to sleep and wakefulness. The interaction of various organ systems during sleep and wakefulness also is evaluated.