Snoring in kids is often overlooked as cute or funny, but it’s something parents should pay close attention to. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is frequently thought of as a condition affecting older adults, but the truth is that this common sleep disorder can affect people of all ages, including children.
On December 16, 2025, we explored what parents need to know to spot the signs of sleep apnea in their kids and essential information on testing, diagnosis, and treatment options. Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Program Manager, Emma Cooksey, was joined by Nathan Pounds, who shared his perspective as a parent advocating for his son with sleep apnea. Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, M.D., a triple board-certified sleep medicine physician, joined us to share what parents need to look out for in their kids’ sleep and when to seek medical help.
Nathan Pounds, MSRC, RRT, RPFT, AE-C, is a Springfield, Missouri–based respiratory therapist and educator who serves as Laboratory Coordinator for the Respiratory Therapy program at Ozarks Technical Community College. His oldest son has a complex medical history that includes failure to thrive, severe asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea, and because his presentation was not “typical,” he and his spouse navigated a long diagnostic journey before their son ultimately received a sleep study and accurate diagnosis. That experience drives his commitment to raising awareness about pediatric sleep apnea so that families and clinicians can recognize atypical presentations sooner, reduce delays in diagnosis, and ensure children receive the care they need to thrive.
Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown is a triple-board-certified sleep medicine physician. 
