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. 2009 Oct;29(5):255-8.

The correlation between tonsil size and academic performance is not a direct one, but the results of various factors

A A Kargoshaie  1 , M Najafi, M Akhlaghi, H R Khazraie, A Hekmatdoost
Affiliations

The correlation between tonsil size and academic performance is not a direct one, but the results of various factors

A A Kargoshaie et al. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2009 Oct.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Chronic upper airway obstruction most often occurs when both tonsils and adenoid are enlarged but may occur when either is enlarged. Obstructive sleep syndrome in young children has been reported to be associated with an adverse effect on learning and academic performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of relative size of the tonsil on academic performance in 4th grade school children. In 320 children, physical examination to determine the size of tonsils was performed by the otorhinolaryngologist. A questionnaire was developed to assess sleep patterns and problems, and socio-demographic data for the student participants. Furthermore, their school performance was assessed using their grade in mathematics, science, reading, spelling, and handwriting. No association between tonsil size and academic performance was found. Snoring frequency, body mass index and body weight showed a positive relation with tonsil size. There was no association between tonsil size and sleepiness during the day, sleeping habits, hyperactivity, enuresis, history of tonsillectomy in children and parental cigarette smoking and education. In conclusion, this study did not show any significant relationship between tonsil size and academic performance in 4th grade students. Further studies are recommended with a larger sample size, cognitive exams for evaluation of attention, and follow-up of the students until high school, when the discrepancy of the students' academic performance is more obvious.

L’ostruzione cronica delle vie aeree superiori è spesso associata all’ipertrofia adenotonsillare, ma può verificarsi anche in assenza di essa. La sindrome da apnea ostruttiva del sonno nel bambino è associata ad un effetto negativo sulla performance scolastica. Lo scopo di questo studio è stato quello di valutare gli effetti delle dimensioni delle tonsille sulla performance scolastica di bambini al quarto anno della scuola primaria. Su 320 bambini è stato eseguito un esame obiettivo otorinolaringoiatrico per determinare le dimensioni delle tonsille. Inoltre, è stato messo a punto un questionario per valutare i dati socio-demografici e le caratteristiche del sonno dei soggetti inclusi nello studio. Infine, la performance scolastica è stata misurata sulla base dei voti ottenuti dai partecipanti nelle seguenti materie: matematica, scienze, lettura, spelling, scrittura. Non è stata riscontrata un’associazione statisticamente significativa tra le dimensioni delle tonsille e la performance scolastica, mentre è stata osservata una relazione positiva tra la frequenza del russamento, il body mass index ed il peso e le dimensioni delle tonsille. Non è stata riscontrata una relazione diretta tra le dimensioni delle tonsille e la sonnolenza diurna, il sonno abituale, l’iperattività, l’enuresi, l’anamnesi di tonsillectomia, l’esposizione a fumo passivo e il livello scolastico. In conclusione, questo studio non ha evidenziato nessuna relazione statisticamente significativa tra le dimensioni delle tonsille e la performance scolastica al quarto anno della scuola primaria. Sarebbe utile effettuare ulteriori studi su campioni più numerosi, valutando la capacità di attenzione, e con un follow-up prolungato fino alle scuole superiori, dove è più probabile che si evidenzino discrepanze nella performance scolastica degli studenti.

Keywords: Academic performance; Hypertrophy; Sleep; Tonsil.

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