Down syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Each year, about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome.1 Of those children, about 60% will be affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to smaller breathing pathways, lower muscle tone, and larger tongue anatomy common in those with Down syndrome.1-3
Children with OSA struggle with a number of daily issues due to continuous poor sleep including challenges with behavior, difficulties at school, and issues with spoken language.
While some children with Down syndrome do well with treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to help treat their OSA, others are unable to tolerate it due to sensitivity challenges, which make wearing a CPAP mask extremely difficult as a long-term solution.4
Qualifications for Inspire therapy
Children with Down syndrome who meet the below criteria may be candidates for Inspire.
Age 13 or older
Diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea (between 10 and 50 events per hour)
Not effectively treated by adenotonsillectomy
Inability to tolerate or failed CPAP use
Why choose Inspire therapy?
Here are some reasons people have chosen Inspire to treat sleep apnea.
Breathe better
Inspire therapy is the only FDA approved obstructive sleep apnea treatment that works inside the body to treat the root cause of sleep apnea. Through a small device implanted during a minimally invasive procedure, Inspire uses gentle stimulation to keep the airway open during sleep.
Sleep better
Because Inspire is a simple, low- maintenance therapy that works without the use of a mask or hose, children are able to sleep more peacefully at night, allowing for more restful sleep.
When they’re ready for bed, they can simply click the button on their remote to turn Inspire on. In the morning, they click the remote once more to turn the therapy off.
Inspire also has automatic “shut-off” and delayed “turn-on” features. These allow time for children to fall asleep before the therapy turns on, and automatically turns the therapy off after a certain amount of run-time.
Feel better
Caregivers report that their children with Down syndrome have less daily tiredness and show increased alertness and energy after consistent use of Inspire.
Patient outcomes
Inspire therapy is a safe and effective alternative to treat OSA for those who are not effectively treated by current therapies like CPAP.
53%
Reduction in sleep apnea events in children with Down syndrome using Inspire therapy consistently.5-6
Insurance coverage for Inspire therapy
If FDA indications are met you can work with your insurance company to discuss coverage options for Inspire. You can also reach out to an Inspire insurance specialist at [email protected] for assistance with insurance approval.
Learn more
Download the Inspire Sleep app
See how Inspire works
Watch short videos answering the most common questions
Watch instructional videos on how to use Inspire
Scan this QR code with your smartphone’s camera app to download.
