Scholastic and Cognitive Achievement Following Adenotonsillectomy in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective: To evaluate the effect of adenotonsillectomy (AT), in children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), on the cognitive and scholastic achievement. Study Design: Prospective study Sitting: Tertiary care hospital (Minia university hospital) Subjects and Methods: 50 children were selected, complaining of symptoms of (OSA) and seeking adenotonsillectomy compared to another control group of 50 children without symptoms of OSA. The study sample were subjected to clinical evaluation where hypertrophied palatine tonsils and Adenoid were the cause of OSA. Polysomnography, audiological evaluation were done and All 50 children underwent a battery of neurocognitive tests including process-oriented intelligence scales (Stanford Binet Intelligence scale and Illinois Test of psycholinguistic ability) pre and post adenotonsillectomy to reveal the effect of (AT) on the cognitive and scholastic achievement of those children. Results: Children with OSA had lower scores in neurocognitive tests (Illinois test and Stanford Binet intelligent scale), as well as. In Academic performance in comparison to the control group. After 8 months from AT, the children with OSA demonstrated highly significant improvement in IQ, Mental age, auditory perceptual assessment (APA), PLA of VSM (Visual sequential memory), AA (Auditory association) VA (Visual association), AC (Auditory closure), VC (Visual closure), GC (Grammatic closure) and SB (Sound Blending). Conclusions: School performance and Neurocognitive functions are worsened in children with Adenotonsillar hypertrophy, this effect is reversible as improvement occurred after their removal.