Apnea means the “cessation of breathing.” This can happen in both adults and in children. These “cessation of breathing” events will typically happen at night and are often accompanied by other symptoms.
This lack of oxygen can be due to a number of reasons. The more common cause is obstruction of the airway. This restriction of the airway space can be from inadequate space for the tongue, jaw position, jaw dimension or enlarged oral tissues (adenoids and tonsils).