Effects of Adenoidectomy and Adenotonsillectomy on the Aerodynamics of the Voice Adenoidektomi ve Adenotonsillektominin Ses Aerodinamiği Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

Adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy are the most commonly performed operations on children.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of these operations on aerodynamic aspects of vocal functions.Material and Methods: This study included 33 (15 adenoidectomy, 18 adenotonsillectomy) children undergoing surgery due to habitual snoring.Percentage of pharyngeal obstruction caused by adenoid and tonsil tissues was noted using direct and endoscopic examinations before surgery for each patient.Aerodynamic evaluations of these children (15 boys, 18 girls) with the age of 3-12 years, were performed by using Aerophone II model 6800 device.Mean efficiency values of each patient were obtained and noted before and 3 months after the operation.Each parent was asked how they felt about the quality of their childs voice at the postoperative testing session (worse, unchanged, better).Results: Mean vocal efficiency was significantly increased following surgery in both adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy groups (p<0.05).The difference was not related with the type of surgery (p>0.05).Percentage of pharyngeal obstruction did not significantly affect the prepostoperative difference in mean vocal efficiency in both groups (p>0.05).None of the patients and their parents complained of a negative change in voice after the operation.Most of them were unlikely to perceive a difference in voice.Conclusion: Adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy have measurable effects on aerodynamic parameters of the voice.However, parents perceived no significant difference in the quality of voice.Nevertheless, especially professional voice users who may be particularly sensitive to changes in resonant characteristics should be advised of potential voice changes.