Effects of tonsil surgery on speech and oral-motor function

• Large tonsils decrease the oropharyngeal airspace and cause upper respiratory obstruction and consequently mouth breathing in children. If mouth breathing is prolonged, it leads to muscular and postural alterations which, in turn cause dentoskeletal changes. In Sweden 6% of all children are surgically treated for hypertrophy of the tonsils. The indications for surgery are recurrent tonsillitis or severe obstructive-sleep-disorder. Oral motor dysfunction including swallowing problems, disordered speech and aberrant dentofacial growth are less recognized problems as indications for treatment. We report preliminary results from an ongoing project aiming at comparing outcome of oral motor function and speech in children treated with two different surgical methods, tonsillectomy (TE)and partial tonsil resection, tonsillotomy (TT). 67 children aged 4-5 years old on waiting list for tonsil surgery were randomized to either TE or TT. They were assessed before surgery with the Swedish version of Nordic Orofacial Test (NOT-S) and a Swedish phonological test. A voice recording was also made. The assessment was repeated 6 months after surgery. The results were compared with the assessment of a control group.No significant differences were found between the TE and the TT group. Both groups performed significantly better on the oral motor test at the postoperative assessment, and voice quality had improved. However the delay in the phonological development that was found preoperatively in the children with enlarged tonsils still remained at the 6-month postoperative control

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oto-rhino-laryngologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Otorhinolaryngology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Logopedics and phoniatrics

Logopedi och foniatrik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)