tonsil removal article | ADHD Information

Hmmm. Interesting. My son was supposed to have his tonsils/adenoids out when he was 4, but the surgeon recommended taking dairy out of his diet first and see what happened. His main problem then was recurring strep and croupy coughing, as a result of swelling from the dairy reaction. It did get much better, so he never did get them removed.

He wasn't dx'd with the ADD til last year, and I've always thought he could use better/more sleep. He still snores sometimes. I'll go look for those news articles - thanks Koko.

Maybe it's time to yank those things out after all!

I just think it's interesting. I hope no one thinks I believe it will cure all adhd. Wouldn't it be nice if it helped some kids, though? Keep in mind that my son and I have Ad/hd,

and I haven't scheduled any surgery!
Koko38811.5466550926I think if the child has sleeplessness due to tonsil problems then this MIGHT help some. My DD has never had tonsilitis but shes always been a terrible sleeper; weaning herself off naps at 18 months, unable to sleep at night, waking multiple times once she WAS asleep. Since we've started her on melatonin, she's not only sleeping MUCH better, but I've noticed a marked lessening of ADHD symptoms as well! Sleep deprivation wreaks all kinds of havoc with the body & contributes to many ailments. Has anyone read about how some tonsil/adnoid removals help kids with ad/hd because it helps sleeping problems, thus making them better able to concentrate during the day?

I'm not kidding. Do an adhd news search. It was there today.
I have read that chronic sleep problems can lead to inattention and hyperactvity. BUT . . . My son had his tonsils/adenoids removed when he was 4. He was diagnosed by a neuropsychologist with ADHD at age 9. It may be true for some kids, but certainly not all.Smallmom, Puckbunny, misy22, momw3kids - I think everybody is right; I just didn't explain the article very well. I agree that tiredness increases adhd symtoms.
Momw3kids - If your son can get better rest, he'll feel so much better. Let us know what happens in the sleep study.

I dont think it mean it can cure ADHD. My son saw a sleep disorder doctor due to the fact that he stops breathing several times during the night, can not fall asleep until late, sleeps restless and is tired during the day. School and I thought it was ADHD -- and he was treated by his physician and put on meds --- which only partially work. I always felt it was sleep apnea causing his behavioral problems not ADHD. Long ago I read about sleep disorders and the affects they have on children. My daughter is definitely ADHD --- my son I believe it has to do with sleep. So --- the sleep disorder doctor said that he does have enlarged tonsils and recommended the sleep study. He will have this done on the 27th of April. Sleep apnea can create behavioral problems etc in kids. It does not have the same effects as it does in adults. I am not looking at this to cure my son --- if his behavior issues are due to sleep --- than that would be great to fix with the removal of his tonsils if it is sleep apnea. But with him actually stop breathing is what is scary to me --- this has gone on since he was a baby. If he still proves to have ADHD after --- then we will continue as we are now.

My son had sleep apnea,(unofficail dx but I would watch him stop breathing and scare me to death), restless sleep, reoccuring sinus infections, throat infections, ear infections...you name it. Had his tonsils out and Wow, sleeps like a baby, sleeps quietly, through the night and has hardly been sick. Sure is nice that he isn't sick all the time and sleeps quielty, calmly at night and through the night. I would have done it years earlier if I knew we would have had those kind of results. He had such a long history of being sick that after the ENT talked to our pedi he dropped all suggestions of allergy shots and other alternatives and scheduled the surgery.

Good luck with the sleep study, hope they find out something helpful.

My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids removed in kindergarten due to recurrent strep throat and ear infections. She also had very restless sleep and bad snoring. She is now 9, and although she still has ADHD, she is much healthier, and I think she sleeps better. I think that without having had this done, her inattentiveness would have been much worse.

I would say not all kids too for my daughter had hers out this September and no change. what it did help was snoring and choking hers was so enlarged she was choking on different foods it was pretty scary.

I actually did research on this years ago before my son's official diagnoses. He had always had enlarged tonisils that almost touched and we finally had them and his adnoids removed hoping it would help his symptoms if he got better sleep. He had his tonsils & adnoids removed 2 1/ years ago and was still diagnosed adhd 2 years ago, although he does sleep better. This was one course of action we tried before medication.Thanks everyone. I will keep you posted with the results from the sleep study and then after if he has his tonsils taken out, etc. It is weird how so many other things can mimic ADHD. Good luck to all!!!!