AERODYNAMIC, ACOUSTIC, AND PERCEPTUAL CHANGES FOLLOWING ADENOIDECTOMY

Fourteen children were seen prior to adenoidectomy and at 1 month, 3 m onths, and 6 months following surgery. On each visit, nasal airway res istance values, nasal cross-sectional area estimates, nasalance scores , and perceptual ratings of nasality were collected. These data were a nalyzed to identify changes that were related to the time of the test, and to the primary indication for surgery (nasal airway obstruction o r recurrent infection). Results revealed significant reduction in nasa l airway resistance and significant changes in nasalance following sur gery. Perceptual changes were not significant. Clinical implications o f these findings are discussed.