Tonsillectomy & quality of life

Pediatrics for Parents, April, 2002

Are there behavioral benefits from removing tonsils? According to the work of doctors at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, the answer is "Yes." They tested 64 children ages 2 to 18 years old with two behavioral tests before their surgery and again three months after surgery.

One study found that preoperatively 16 of the children (25%) had scores consistent with abnormal behavior. After the surgery, only 5 children (8%) tested in that range. The results for the other test showed similar improvements.

It's not known if the children who didn't show any improvement improved after the three month evaluation period. This study shows that treating the obstructive sleep apnea caused by large tonsils results in behavioral improvements in many of the children.

Archives of Otolaryngoology-Head & Neck Surgery, 10/02.