Infected tonsils and adenoids are commonly treated with antibiotics; however, your ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist may suggest removing them completely if they are affecting your sleep. A sleep study, or polysomnogram, is used to determine whether sleep disturbance is occurring because of large tonsils and adenoids.
Besides snoring, chronic infections of the adenoids can affect other areas such as the eustachian tube, the passage between the back of the nose and the inside of the ear. This can lead to frequent ear infections and buildup of fluid in the middle ear that may cause temporary hearing loss. Studies also find that removal of the adenoids may help some children with chronic earaches accompanied by fluid in the middle ear (otitis media with effusion).
Poor sleep has been proven to increase possibility of behavior disorders such as ADHD and hyperactivity, it also increases irritability and poor attention, as well as decreases focus needed for cognitive learning.
Sleep is an important part of a persons well-being at any age. Since children are especially vulnerable to suffer from sleep disturbances, we need to pay attention to red flags such as snoring in order to ensure their well-being.
