ABSTRACT
Cognitive deficits and behavioral problems are among the most common mor-
bidities associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children.
Reports of impaired intellectual function in children with adenotonsillar hyper-
trophy date back to 1889 when Hill reported on ‘‘some causes of backwardness
and stupidity in children’’ (1). Interest in this area was renewed in the 1970s
when the first detailed report of a small group of children with OSAS was
published (2). Data also now suggest that some of the cognitive and behavioral
deficits observed in children with OSAS may be reversible with treatment. This
chapter will highlight current understanding of both behavior and cognition
in childhood OSAS and examine evidence for and against OSAS as an
important contributor to neurobehavioral problems.
