Adenoids in school-aged children.

A total of 687 school children, aged six to 15 years, were examined clinically, radiologically and audiometrically. Lateral radiological examination of paranasal sinuses was carried out in 663 (96.5 per cent) children for evaluation of the size of adenoids. The size of the soft tissue shadow (adenoids) was assessed as normal or large. It was large in 133 (25 per cent) children, three times more frequently in seven-year-old than in 14-year-old children. The occurrence of adenoidal symptoms (blocked nose, mouth breathing, snoring, snuffling or rhinitis) varied from 14.3 to 30.1 per cent in children with large adenoids compared to 7 to 9.8 per cent in children with normal adenoids. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only recurrent snoring and the child's age were significantly associated with radiologically large adenoids. The hearing thresholds were 1.1 to 4.2 dB poorer and mean middle ear pressure values were 60 to 70 mmH2O lower in children with large adenoids compared to those with normal size adenoids. Large adenoids have an influence on the hearing level of a child, but probably via the negative middle ear pressure.