Could your child need a Sleep Study?

Children with Sleep Disorders

Sleep problems are under recognized in children and adolescents.  Though good sleep habits can usually address most sleep problems, there are underlying medical disorders which can appear only in sleep.   Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome is one among many sleep disorders.

Children with chronic medical issues including nasal/sinus problems, asthma, and other heart and lung conditions have a higher incidence of sleep problems that often require further evaluation.   Being overweight is also associated with a higher incidence of obstructive sleep apnea in children.

Children who have poor sleep quality and/or have higher risk for a sleep disorder often have the following problems:

• Snoring or mouth breathing during sleep
• Pauses in breathing or gasping breaths during sleep
• Difficulty awakening in the morning/morning headaches
• Sleepiness despite adequate sleep time
• Hyperactivity or inattentiveness, symptoms similar to ADHD
• Bedwetting
• Difficulty gaining weight or obesity

Evaluating and treating sleep disorders in children is a highly specialized field that requires consultation with pediatric specialists and sometimes the performance of specialized diagnostic testing with unique parameters for the pediatric population. 

At Houston Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Associates, your child will be cared for throughout the entire evaluation, treatment, and follow-up.  A sleep evaluation begins with a clinic visit with a physician to properly identify your child’s sleep problems.  If necessary, some children may require a sleep study (polysomnogram) or other diagnostic testing that is conducted at a separate child-friendly sleep laboratory.  Follow-up is always recommended and is an integral part of treating pediatric sleep disorders.

Dr. Sarat C. Susarla

Dr. Susarla is board certified in pediatrics & pediatric pulmonology. He is a native Texan and grew up in the Houston area. He received his B.S. in Molecular Biology from The University of Texas at Austin and his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Susarla completed his pediatrics training at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida and his Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. As a postdoctoral fellow he performed basic science research in asthma that was published in peer-review medical literature. He has also pursued additional training in sleep disorders with a focus on children. Dr. Susarla's professional interests include asthma, inflammatory lung diseases in children, and sleep-related breathing disorders.

Dr. John Robertson

Dr. Robertson is board certified in pediatrics & in Pediatric Pulmonology. He received a B.S. in Microbiology from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Dr. Robertson went on to complete his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. He completed his pediatric residency at Children's Medical Center of Dallas and his Fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology at Texas Children's Hospital. In his spare time, Dr. Robertson is a mixed-media artist as well as a poet with 24 works published. His wife Julie, also an Aggie, works for the American Heart Association. Dr. Robertson's professional interests includes chronic cough, asthma, and ventilator dependence.

Houston Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Associates

At Houston Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Associates, our mission is to provide comprehensive care to children in the Greater Houston Area with breathing and sleep disorders. We endeavor to make our practice a model for family-centered care in the community by providing state-of-the-art services in a compassionate and nurturing environment.

Pediatric Pulmonologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in children birth to 18 years of age. This includes but not limited to the following conditions:

-Chronic Cough                                      -Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath                              - Recurring pneumonia/bronchitis
- Noisy breathing                                    - Wheezing
- Apnea associated with infancy              - Asthma
- Obstructive sleep apnea                        - Chronic lung disease in premature infants


We also provide care for children with special needs, including patients that require home apnea monitors, orxygen, specialized airway clearance devices, and tracheostomies with home ventilators. Our office utilizes specialize lung function testing equipment for the evaluation and treatment of complex respiratory conditions. We also preform in-office laryngoscopy in older patients. We perform in-office pulmonary exercise testing for children & adolescents with exercise-related breathing disorders.

Our staff is highly specialized and includes a respiratory therapist with pediatric expertise.


In addition to our main office located in the med center, we have offices located in Katy, Sugar Land, Kingwood and Clearlake. Please call (713) 794-0200 to schedule an appointment.