The Cognitive effects and academic Outcomes following Adenotonsillectomy
in children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Abstract
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is characterized
by repeated airway obstructions during sleep. The peak incidence for
pediatric OSA is during early childhood, in particular, the period
between 2 and 8 years of age Aims/Objectives: The aim of this study to
evaluate the effect of adenotonsillectomy (AT) on the scholastic
achievement of children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) to put a plan
for proper management of those children. Material and Methods: 50
children were selected from 150 children suspected with OSA who came to
our unit complaining from symptoms of (OSA) and seeking for
adenotonsillectomy. 50 children well diagnosed as OSA due to
adenotonsillar hypertrophy confirmed by polysomnography. a full history
was taken from parents, audiological evaluation and All 50 children
underwent a battery of neurocognitive tests containing process-oriented
intelligence scales(Stanford Binet Intelligence scale and Illinois Test
of psycholinguistic ability) pre and post adenotonsillectomy to show the
effect of Adenotonsillectomy(AT) on scholastic achievement of children
with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Results: Children with OSAS had
lower scores in neurocognitive tests(Illinois test and Stanford Binet
intelligent scale) and Percentage (%) of the child’s scores of his
subjects (Academic performance) indicating impaired neurocognitive
function and school performance, but 8 months after adenotonsillectomy,
the children with OSAS demonstrated statistical highly significant
differences were obtained between the preoperative and postoperative
examination of the study group as regards the symptoms of OSA, IQ and
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) (p<0.001). Conclusions: the school
performance and neurocognitive functions improve after
Adenotonsillectomy indicating that the impaired school performance and
neurocognitive functions are mostly reversible, at least 8 months
following adenotonsillectomy.