Mouth Breathing in Children: Sleep, Nasal Causes and Assessment
Understand why a child may breathe through the mouth, which symptoms matter, and when nasal or sleep assessment may be appropriate.
Read MoreWhen is adenoid removal considered?
Adenoids sit behind the nose and can obstruct airflow when enlarged. In some children, this may contribute to ongoing nasal blockage, snoring, sleep disruption or middle-ear problems. These symptoms can have other causes, so the adenoids need to be assessed in context rather than assuming surgery is the answer.
Adenoidectomy may be discussed when symptoms are persistent, clinically significant and not adequately managed with appropriate non-surgical care. The decision depends on the child’s symptoms, examination findings, ear and sleep history, and whether other treatments or procedures may be more suitable.
What to discuss during the assessment
- How long your child has had nasal blockage, snoring or mouth breathing
- Any pauses in breathing, restless sleep or daytime tiredness
- Repeated ear infections, fluid behind the eardrum or hearing concerns
- Treatments already tried and any relevant medical history
An individual decision
Not every child with enlarged adenoids needs an operation. The expected benefit, possible risks and recovery should be discussed with the clinician before deciding.
This information is general and does not replace an individual medical assessment.
