|
by Natalie J. Dahl, MS, CCC-SLP
Use a mirror to look in your mouth and at the back of
your throat, you will see your uvula (hanging down
from the roof of your mouth) in the middle and
round masses on each side of the uvula. These sphereshaped
masses are your tonsils. If you have a hard
time seeing them in your own mouth, you can also see
them in another child or adult by looking into his or
her mouth. Your tonsils have a very important job to
produce antibodies that help fight nose and throat infections and to keep
these infections from spreading to the neck or into the bloodstream. Your
adenoids, unlike your tonsils, are not visible by opening your mouth; they
are a mass of tissue located where your nasal passageway and your throat
meet. They also play a role in helping your immune system fight off germs.
When tonsils and adenoids get infected, they become enlarged or swollen
and inflamed and can cause several other problems in the body, including:
- Speech: Having a sore throat can make speaking painful and can
change the tone and quality of your voice. If your tonsils are swollen
and enlarged, your voice may sound hoarse or muffled; it may also
be difficult to produce some sounds because the tongue is pushed
forward. If your adenoids are enlarged, you may sound hyponasal,
like you are plugging your nose (essentially, the swollen adenoid is
plugging your nasal passageway).
- Breathing: Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can constrict the airway,
making it difficult to breathe and can cause mouth breathing. This
restricted airway can also cause snoring and obstructed sleep apnea
while asleep.
- Ear Infections: Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can prevent fluid from
draining from the middle ear, causing frequent ear infections, which
can cause speech delays in young children.
If you have any of the signs or symptoms of enlarged tonsils and adenoids
mentioned above, consult with your physician to determine appropriate
treatments. These could include antibiotics to reduce infection, a
tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy (removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids), or
speech therapy to strengthen areas affected by prolonged enlarged tonsils
and adenoids. It should be noted that speech therapy is NOT effective
while the areas are swollen and infected, but may help rehabilitate healthy
communication in children who have adjusted to swollen tissues in the
throat over long periods of time.
Resources
|