Donations Help Build the Children’s Sleep Disorders Unit

The San’s purpose designed Childrens Sleep Disorders Unit was opened in 2005 by the NSW Minister for Health.

Increased understanding of the physical, behavioural, academic and social impact of the range of sleep disorders warranted the doubling in size of the dedicated unit to provide beautifully decorated child friendly facilities for affected children and families. When opened, it was the only private dedicated paediatric unit in Australia to help diagnose children with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea or other disorders such as apnoea of infancy, epilepsy, night terrors and para-somnias.

A San Sleep Paediatrician says "The need for the expansion of the San's Children's Sleep Disorders Unit reflects how common sleep problems are in babies and children. 30% of Australian parents report that children have problems with sleep that affect their output and function. Sleep disorders are one of the most common causes of concern of parents with young children.”

Families also appreciate how the unit helps their families. 

Julia Wright, mother of William, says "Having a sleep study done at the San's Children's Sleep Disorders Unit has changed my family's life.  William had always been a relatively placid well-behaved, though active little boy. Then suddenly there was a dramatic change...The (sleep study) results allowed us to understand why he was experiencing these problems and therefore enabled us to do something about them. William hadn't been getting the deep sleep he needed and this was causing his behavioural problems. The results revealed he suffered from sleep apnoea - he would stop breathing for 20 seconds at a time. His oxygen levels would fall down to 74% before climbing again and he was waking more than 41 times an hour.  He went on CPAP for six nights to try to open his airways, increase his oxygen levels, decrease his carbon dioxide levels, and reignite his brains' respiratory sensors. The CPAP was successful and William had an uncomplicated surgery to remove his tonsils. There was a dramatic improvement in his behaviour and his speech straight away”.