Children’s Health℠ is among a select few pediatric centers nationwide to offer Inspire® therapy, a treatment approved by the FDA. This innovative treatment helps children 13 and older who have Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea. Thanks to our team’s surgical expertise and deep involvement in research studies, we’re the only center in Texas and nearby states offering Inspire to children ages 10 to 21 with Down syndrome.
Overview
Who can get pediatric Inspire therapy?
A child with Down syndrome may benefit from Inspire therapy if they:
Are 13 and older (or between 10 to 21 years old as part of a research study)
Have severe obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep disordered breathing
Have persistent obstructive sleep apnea despite surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids (or tonsils and adenoids are too small to remove)
Have had little or no success with CPAP
Children’s Health is 1 of 8 centers nationally that are part of a research study to assess the effects of Inspire therapy on language and cognition in children 10 to 21 years old with Down syndrome.
Benefits
What are the benefits of pediatric Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulationtherapy?
The Inspire implant helps children with Down syndrome sleep more soundly, which means parents sleep better, too.
Inspire therapy may also help your child:
Behave better at home and at school
Improve their language, communication and cognitive skills
Perform better at school
Feel less tired and have more energy
Be more engaged with family members, friends and teachers
Lower their risk of sleep apnea-associated heart problems and stroke
Side Effects
What are the side effects of pediatric Inspire therapy?
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation rarely causes side effects. Some children have discomfort, pain or swelling around their collarbone after surgery to place the device. These side effects will go away in a few days.
Risks
What are the risks of pediatric Inspire therapy?
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is very safe. Our ENT doctors have deep expertise in placing Inspire devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea in children. This experience lowers the risk of complications, such as infections and nerve damage, which are rare.
What to Expect
What to expect with pediatric Inspire therapy?
Your child receives expert, compassionate care from a team of specialists in our ENT department, Pediatric Down Syndrome Clinic and our accredited Pediatric Sleep Disorders Program. Experts from these programs work together to manage Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, helping to improve your child’s quality of life.
How to Prepare
How do I prepare my child for pediatric Inspire therapy surgery?
Your child’s care team will give you instructions to help prepare your child for surgery.
Doctors and Providers
Our pediatric ear, nose and throat doctors are experts at surgically implanting hypoglossal nerve stimulation devices to treat sleep apnea in children and teenagers with Down syndrome.
