PURPOSE: to characterize symptoms and signs of Mouth Breathing in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and with complaints about school underachievement. The specific objectives were to relate the found characteristics to the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder types, gender and age of this population. METHODS: data were collected at ADOLESCENTRO; a public institution of the State Secretary of Health of the Federal District - Brazil. Nocturne and daytime symptoms that appeared in the age ranging between two and twelve-years-old were reported by the parents and were analyzed, as well as some signs cited on literature as being common characteristics of Mouth Breathing. RESULTS: a high frequency of Mouth Breathing characteristics were found to be associated with snoring, nocturne mouth breathing, rhinitis, sialorrhoea, dark undereye circles and dry lips. Related to the symptoms, an association was found among tonsillitis and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder types; sialorrhoea on the pillow with masculine gender and daytime mouth breathing; nocturne mouth breathing, sialorrhoea on the pillow with age. An association was found between non-functional lips with age and non-functional tongue with age. CONCLUSION: the possibility of simultaneous existence of Mouth Breathing on children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and complaints about school underachievement requires a deeper diagnostic investigation.
Attention Deficit Disorders With Hyperactivity; Mouth Breathing; Sleep; Respiration Disorders; Underachievement; Adolescent
