Adenoids

Adenoid hypertrophy can occur in individuals of any age, but it is most commonly seen in children between the ages of 3 and 7 years old. This is because the adenoids typically reach their largest size during childhood and begin to shrink after around age 9. However, adenoid hypertrophy can also occur in adolescents and adults, although it is less common.

Symptoms

• Nasal congestion: Enlarged adenoids can obstruct the nasal passage, leading to difficulty in breathing through the nose.

• Mouth breathing: Blocked nasal passages may force affected individuals to breathe through their mouth, especially during sleep.

• Snoring: Due to the obstruction of airflow, individuals with adenoid hypertrophy often snore during sleep.

• Sleep disturbances: Adenoid hypertrophy can cause disrupted sleep patterns, leading to daytime fatigue and irritability.

• Speech and language development problems: Chronic ear infections or hearing loss resulting from adenoid enlargement can impact speech and language development in children if left untreated.

• Chronic sinus infections: Enlarged adenoids can obstruct the drainage of mucus from the sinuses, leading to recurrent or chronic sinus infections.

• Nasal speech: Enlarged adenoids can affect the resonance of the voice, leading to a nasal or muffled quality to speech.

Adenoid facies

• Open-mouth breathing: Due to nasal congestion and obstruction caused by enlarged adenoids, individuals with adenoid facies often breathe through their mouth rather than their nose, leading to a perpetually open mouth.

• Long, narrow face: Chronic nasal congestion and mouth breathing can contribute to facial abnormalities, such as a long and narrow face shape, particularly in children whose facial bones are still developing.

• High-arched palate: Enlarged adenoids can impact the development of the palate (roof of the mouth), leading to a high-arched palate, which may contribute to speech difficulties and dental problems.

• Dental abnormalities: Adenoid facies may be associated with dental malocclusions, such as an overbite (protruding upper teeth) or crowded teeth, due to altered tongue positioning and mouth breathing.

• Drooping eyelids: Chronic mouth breathing can lead to muscle weakness in the muscles surrounding the eyes, resulting in a characteristic appearance of drooping eyelids or a sleepy expression.

• Underdeveloped cheekbones: Chronic nasal congestion and mouth breathing may contribute to underdeveloped cheekbones and a flat appearance of the midface.