Phonological development in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.
Adeno-tonsillar hypertrophy with obstructive sleep disordered breathing (OSDB) is known to affect oral-motor function, behaviour, and academic performance. Adeno-tonsillectomy is the most frequently performed operation in children, with total tonsillectomy (TE) being more common than partial resection, 'tonsillotomy' (TT). In the present study 67 children, aged 50-65 months, with OSBD were randomized to TE or TT. The children's phonology was assessed pre-operatively and 6 months post-operatively. Two groups of children served as controls. Phonology was affected in 62.7% of OSBD children before surgery, compared to 34% in the control group (p < .001). Also, OSBD children had more severe phonological deficits than the controls (p < .001). Phonology improved 6 months equally after both surgeries. Despite improvement post-operatively, the gap to the controls increased. Other functional aspects, such as oral motor function, were normalized regardless of surgical method--TE or TT. The impact of OSBD should be considered as one contributing factor in phonological impairment.
Lundeborg
Inger
I
Division of Speech and Language Pathology, Linköping University, Sweden.
McAllister
Anita
A
Samuelsson
Christina
C
Ericsson
Elisabeth
E
Hultcrantz
Elisabeth
E
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology; D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D010699:Phonation; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome