Enlarged Adenoids and Mouth Breathing?

Hi K.,
Our 5 year old, as an infant and toddler had horrible times breathing. It was so noisy just when he was breathing regularly. I discovered when he was 2 that he quit breathing when he was sleeping. It ended up being obstructive sleep apnea that he was diagnosed with. I firmly believe that is why he didn't have a "normal" sleep pattern in infancy and as a toddler. He woke up every 45 minutes or so.
If your son's sleeping isn't interrupted and he isn't cranky during the day, then I would wait. He may need to have an aneoidectomy and coblation of the tonsils like my son had. If his sleep pattern is not good, I would get a second opinion.
And, I didn't realize that my son couldn't "smell" either (made sense after the operation). After his operation, he would take everything he could get his hands on and smell it. It was adorable and so sad at the same time.
Good luck to you.
T.
Final Score Girls-3, Boys-2

Hi K.,

I'm a Speech-Language Pathologist and I have seen many students with enlarged adenoids. It can/will impact your son's speech if he does not grow into it. As he grows, his oral cavity grows, and it all may adjust. But, if it doesn't, I would consider surgery. My concern for these kids, aside from speech issues, is sleep apnea. When a child sleeps, his muscles in his throat relax, and can impact breathing. If you are unsure what to do, go see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. He will do a scope and give a recommendation. Hope this helps!

I would seriously consider what is causing his adenoids to be swollen. I would really consider toxins in the home as a cause. It is easier to eliminate and cheaper than surgery. And to deal with it untill he turns two.

Anyway, I recently switched my home over to toxin free cleaners and personal care products and love the difference. I'd be happy to let you know about what I did and where I get my things. Feel free to call me ###-###-#### or I can call you if you let me know a good time and your number.

Have a great day
K.

I wish I had paid more attention when my daughters were your son's age. It wasn't until my oldest was going to school that our dentist showed me how their enlarged tonsils/adenoids were affecting jaw development and he described behaviors so closely that I asked if he had been at our house!! After surgery both of my girls sleep through the night no snoring, they have mellowed out during the day (not getting enough air makes kids really hyper as their bodies try!)

They also haven't been sick like they were before their tonsils came out. The mouth breathing has even changed and so has swallowing and eating better.

My son had his adenoids taken out at 11 mo. He was getting ear tubes put in and the ENT felt that the adenoids were a pretty easy thing to address during the same surgery. This stopped his problem with chronic ear infections.

He still has breathing problems though. The ENT says that the tonsils need to come out and that perhaps some of the adenoid tissue has grown back.

The whole thing is causing problems with his jaw development.

I urge you to ask your pedi for a referral to a pediatric ENT! It can be addressed now--you don't have to wait until he is 2.