The tonsils and adenoids are structures located in your throat that play an important role in supporting your immune system. They work by preventing germs from entering your body through the mouth and nose. Both of these structures also help with proper speech development, as they contribute to how you resonate sounds. However, if they become enlarged or infected, they can negatively affect your speech by making it difficult to produce certain sounds. To learn more about how tonsils and adenoids affect your speech, read on.
In this article we will discuss:
What are adenoids and tonsils?
The tonsils are two small lumps of tissue located on either side of your throat. They’re made up of lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection. The adenoids are located further back in the throat, behind the nose. They’re also made up of lymphocytes and help to protect the body from infection.
During infancy and early childhood, the tonsil and adenoid are larger relative to the size of the throat. As you grow older, they typically shrink in size. However, they can sometimes become enlarged due to infection or other conditions.
Adenoids and tonsils play a role in speech development
The shape and size of these structures can affect how air passes through the throat when you produce speech sounds. Specifically, it affects the resonation of sounds.
The process of producing clear and intelligible speech sound:
In order for us to produce sounds properly, there is a specific process that needs to happen. The first is cerebration. This is the process of sending signals from our brain to our muscles telling them what to do. Second, respiration is required to produce speech sounds. This is the process of breathing in and out, which provides the energy needed to produce speech. Third, phonation occurs when the vocal cords vibrate, producing sound waves. Fourth, resonation is the process of shaping the sound waves so that they are clear and distinct. Lastly, articulation is the process of shaping sounds in the mouth, which allows us to form words and sentences.
If adenoids and tonsils do not function properly, it may lead to speech problems
Aside from causing trouble with producing certain speech sounds, enlarged tonsils and adenoids can also cause problems with resonance. This means that your voice may sound nasal, muffled, or like you’re speaking through your nose. You may also have trouble hearing yourself properly, as adenoids and tonsils can affect how well sound waves travel.
When the tonsil and adenoid are enlarged, it can interfere with the speech process and make it difficult to produce certain sounds. For example, an enlarged adenoid may impact how you resonate sounds, making it more difficult to properly enunciate certain consonants like “s,” “t,” or “d.”
Poor speech development can also be caused by a severe infection of the adenoids, which is more likely to occur in children. If you have enlarged tonsils and adenoids, they may need to be removed through a surgical procedure called adenoidectomy.
Symptoms of enlarged tonsils and adenoids
Aside from speech problems, if your adenoid or tonsil are enlarged or infected, you may experience a number of different symptoms, including:
A sore throat and pain when swallowing
Trouble breathing through the nose
Nagging cough or nasal congestion that doesn’t respond to treatment
Difficulty speaking clearly or producing certain sounds, such as “s” or “th”
In severe cases, adenoid and tonsil enlargement can cause sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. It can be caused by a blockage of the airway, such as when the tongue falls back into the throat or tonsils and adenoids are enlarged. Sleep apnea can lead to a number of serious health problems, so it’s important to seek treatment if you think you may have this condition.
Depending on the cause of your adenoid or tonsil enlargement, treatment options may include medications to reduce swelling, antibiotic treatments to fight infection, or surgery to remove the adenoids and/or tonsils.
What causes enlarged tonsils and adenoids?
There are several factors that can increase your risk of tonsil and adenoid enlargement, including:
Allergies
Exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke
Chronic nasal congestion or sinusitis
Frequent upper respiratory infections
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms associated with adenoid or tonsil enlargement, it’s important to speak with your doctor right away for a proper diagnosis. With the right treatment, you can successfully manage this condition and maintain good speech development.
Treatment options are available if you or your child is experiencing speech difficulties due to adenoids or tonsils.
Depending on theIf adenoids are enlarged, they may need to be removed through a surgical procedure called adenoidectomy. In some cases, tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils) may also be necessary if the tonsils are severely enlarged or if there are repeated bouts of infection.
If you or your child is experiencing difficulty with speech due to adenoids or tonsils, treatment options are available. Adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids) and tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils) are two possible treatments that may be recommended by a doctor.
Both procedures are typically safe and effective in relieving symptoms. However, as the underlying cause, adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy may be necessary. These procedures can help to restore proper airflow and improve speech development.
So if you or your child is experiencing issues with speech, it’s important to talk to your doctor about possible adenoid or tonsil-related causes. With the right treatment, you can get back to speaking clearly and confidently!
What happens during an adenoidectomy?
An adenoidectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing the adenoids from the throat. This is typically done in cases where adenoids are enlarged or infected and can help to alleviate symptoms such as difficulty breathing. This is performed by a doctor in an operating room under general anesthesia.
What happens during a tonsillectomy?
A tonsillectomy, on the other hand, is a surgical procedure that involves removing the tonsils from the throat. This is typically done in cases where tonsils are severely enlarged or infected and can help to alleviate symptoms such as difficulty speaking or if you or your child experience severe pain while swallowing. As with adenoidectomy, this is performed by a doctor in an operating room under general anesthesia.
Is it safe to have adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy?
Both adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy are typically safe and effective procedures. However, as with any surgery, there is always a risk of complications.
Possible complications of adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy include bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding tissues.
What happens after surgery?
After surgery, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions for care. This will help to ensure a successful recovery and avoid any complications. After surgery, you or your child may or may not have speech problems. But if they do, this is where speech therapists take action! It is their role to help children and adults relearn how to speak, if necessary.
A speech therapist can help!
It is worth noting that speech therapy won’t help with these difficulties if the actual problem needs to be addressed through surgery. It would be like starting physical therapy for a fractured leg before the cast is applied.
Treatment options may include medications or surgery to remove them. However, there may be other steps you can take to minimize the impact of adenoid and tonsil enlargement on your speech, such as practicing proper breathing techniques when speaking or working with a speech therapist to improve your articulation skills. Overall, if you suspect that your adenoids or tonsils are affecting your speech development, it is important to seek the help of a healthcare professional right away.
Whether you or your child are experiencing speech difficulties due to adenoids or tonsils, it’s important to seek help from a qualified speech therapist. A therapist can assess your symptoms and recommend treatment options that may be appropriate for your situation. This can help you get back on track with clear and confident speech!
The good news is, after surgery, many people can quickly get back to speaking clearly and confidently. So if adenoids or tonsils are affecting your ability to speak, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from a speech therapist today!
Speech therapy for resonance
There are lots of things that a speech therapist can do to help people who are struggling with adenoid and tonsil difficulties. However, it highly affects children more compared to adults.
Speech therapy for resonance focuses on improving vocal quality by helping individuals learn how to use their voices more effectively. This can help with things like controlling pitch and volume, as well as articulating sounds clearly. A speech therapist will work with you or your child through exercises that target different aspects of vocal resonance, including:
Breathing techniques
Strengthening the muscles in the throat
Improving articulation skills
Exercises to improve range of motion in the jaw
In addition to working with a speech therapist, there are also at-home exercises that you can do to help improve your speech. If you or your child is struggling with speech due to adenoids or tonsils, don’t hesitate to reach out for help! A speech therapist can assess your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment options.
Prevent having enlarged tonsils and adenoids now!
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are a common problem, especially in children. However, there are things that you can do to help prevent them from becoming enlarged in the first place!
Some tips to prevent enlarged tonsils and adenoids include:
Avoiding respiratory infections
Staying up-to-date on vaccinations and screenings
Eating a healthy diet
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices by brushing regularly, flossing, and seeing your dentist for regular checkups.
You may also want to consider ways to reduce stress in your life, as chronic stress has been linked to the development of enlarged tonsils and adenoids. This could include things like yoga, meditation, or spending time outdoors in nature.
Again, if you or your child are struggling with enlarged tonsils or adenoids, don’t hesitate to reach out for help! At Better Speech, we offer online speech therapy services convenient for you and tailored to your child's individual needs. Our services are affordable and effective - get Better Speech now.
About the Author
Mikee Larrazabal
I am a Speech-Language Pathologist with 14 years of experience working with children and adults who have communication difficulties. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science at Cebu Doctors' University and have been helping people overcome their communication challenges ever since.
I have worked with individuals of different ages, including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, adults and seniors. I'm passionate about speech therapy and take great satisfaction in helping people overcome their communication challenges and improve their lives through better communication skills. In my spare time I like reading books, going hiking in nature and taking care of my dog Locas.
