Can Tonsillectomy Eliminate ADHD?
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Recently, a study came out in the prestigious journal of Pediatrics, which addressed whether a tonsillectomy could eliminate ADHD.
A recent news cast on NBC summarizes the research and can be watched here.
The issue here is that some children develop ‘sleep disordered breathing’.
In adults, we know that sleep apnea exists – i.e. sometimes snoring can be so bad that someone actually stops breathing during their sleep. This can have serious consequences, and can be treated.
In kids, a similar condition can happen – related to enlarged tonsils. The tonsils get so big, that the children have trouble getting enough oxygen during their sleep. This can lead to behavioral consequences, such as inattention and hyperactivity.
In the study published on this issue, the researchers found that in their group of kids with ADHD (total 22) who required tonsillectomy (as assessed by an Ear Nose and Throat specialist), 50% of them (total 11) had improved to the point of not having the diagnosis of ADHD 1 year after their surgery.
Does this mean that all kids with ADHD should have their tonsils out?
Absolutely not.
What it means is: if you child has ADHD, and has trouble with his or her tonsils – get them assessed. Your child may be in the group that will improve if the tonsils are taken out.
Best to talk to your pediatrician, family doctor, or child psychiatrist about how this new research may relate to your child.
Our 10 y/o with ADHD had both his Tonsils and adnoids removed when he was 7. There was an initial improvement in behaviour and sleep there has since been a an escalation in behavior problems that now require that we medicate him with Ritalin 10.