Most people associate snoring problems with adults but the fact is that is can affect children as well. Studies show that between 3% and 12% of preschool-age children have a snoring problem. Children affected by snoring are often otherwise healthy.

It has also been shown that as many as 2% of preschool-age children suffer from OSAS, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. OSAS has been linked to problems with behavior and schoolwork in children. If your child snores, you should get it checked by a health care professional and find out what the best treatment would be.

To determine whether it is just a normal snoring problem or the more serious OSAS, there are a few things to consider. Does your child sleep well at night or do they show daytime drowsiness? If they aren't tired during the day, it's less likely to be OSAS.

Children with OSAS often have behavioral problems, short attention spans and problems at school. If these symptoms are familiar, here are a few more indicators of OSAS:

- High blood pressure

- Enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids

- Mouth breathing, nasal sounding speech and obstruction of airflow through the nose

- Weight gain or being overweight

If you think OSAS might be a problem for your child, there are a few methods commonly used to test for it. Probably the most common is known as nocturnal polysomnography, which is an overnight sleep study. If you're not located in a large city however, it can sometimes be tough to find a hospital that offers this.

Another option is to tape the sound of your child's breathing overnight. There are people who will interpret these tapes for you to help you determine if OSAS is the problem.

If OSAS is determined to be a problem, there are a number of treatment available. Many of them involve the removal of enlarged adenoids and tonsils with what is known as an adenotonsillectomy.

Not all treatments are as severe as surgery, however. If the OSAS is due to being overweight, it is often as simple as losing the extra weight. Allergies have also been shown to contribute to OSAS and by treating the allergies it can often get rid of the OSAS.

No matter how serious your child's snoring may be, it is wise to get a professional diagnosis so any problems can be dealt with before they become more serious.