Does Early Tonsillectomy Improve Cognition in Preschoolers with Sleep Apnea?

Medical literature suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (OSDB) in young children have a negative impact on behavior and cognition, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, emotional capability, enuresis, decreased IQ, and learning impairment. Adenotonsillectomy as a therapy for OSA and OSDB has been associated with improvements in behavior, but the impact on cognitive function is unclear.

To examine this issue, investigators in Australia conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial in which 190 children (ages, 3–5 years) with mild OSA or OSDB were assigned to early adenotonsillectomy (within 2 months of symptom onset) or watchful waiting for 12 months.

At 12-mo…