ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although children's personality and behavior change caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy have been thought to significantly relate with children's growth and learning capability, it has not been substantiated by any available standarized assessment. We aim to uncover the impact of adenotonsillar hypertrophy on children's personality and behavior by K-CBCL (Korean Child Behavior Checklist) and KPI-C (Korean Personality Inventory for Children). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Children aged 5 through 15 years old, a total of 33 (M: 18 F: 15) who were scheduled for T & A (Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy), were studied. The control group consisted of 42 healthy children (M: 22 F: 20) of the same age. Two standard questionnaires, K-CBCL and KPI-C, were given to the parents of the children to complete and then a statistical analysis carried out by a clinical psychologist for interpretation (p<0.05, by SPSS v10.0). RESULTS: According to K-CBCL, internalizing problems and total behavior problems were of statistical significance for the patient group compared to healthy children (p<0.05). KPI-C test revealed statistical significance on ERS (ego resilience scale), ANX (anxiety), SOM (somatization) and FAM (familial relationship)(p<0.05). In both groups, the results between gender were quite different. In female patient group, the total behavior problems were indicated, while in the male patient group, the total behavior problem, internalizing problem as well as somatic complaints were indicated. Especially, indications of ERS and SOM were of statistical significance (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy have difficulty in adaptation, and lack the ability to respond to situation, and easily get broken down by stress, and experience frequent anxiety.