Ep. 27: "ASD, ADHD, Sensory Processing, SDB, & ENT Issues with Dr. David McIntosh, MD, ENT"

Airway Answers with Nicole Goldfarb: Expanding Your Breath of Knowledge

Welcome to the "Airway Answers with Nicole Goldfarb: Expanding your Breath of Knowledge". In this episode, Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM® interviews the pediatric ENT, Dr. David McIntosh, and they talk all about "ASD, ADHD, Sensory Processing, SDB, & ENT Issues ” and the impact of these issues on the airway and sleep. Dr. McIntosh sheds light on the crucial connection between ENT health, sleep-disordered breathing, and neurodevelopmental conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The conversation explores the complex interplay between ear, nose, and throat health and neurodevelopmental disorders, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment.
🤧 👂 👄This is Part 3 of a multiple-part ENT series. Don’t forget to watch Part 1, which was “ALL ABOUT ALLERGIES”, and Part 2 “ASTHMA, REFLUX, TONSILS/ADENOIDS, EAR INFECTIONS". 👀As a practitioner, patient, or parent, this ENT series is a must watch! 👀
🔑Key takeaways from this interview include 🔑:
✅ Strong Link Between ENT Issues, Sleep, and Neurodevelopment: There's a significant connection between ear, nose, and throat health, sleep-disordered breathing (especially OSA), and neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and ASD. 👂👃🧠😴
✅Sleep-Disordered Breathing Mimics and Worsens Symptoms: Untreated sleep-disordered breathing can mimic ADHD, leading to misdiagnosis, and can exacerbate symptoms in both ADHD and ASD. Addressing OSA can significantly improve or resolve ADHD-like symptoms in many children. 😴🤧🥴
✅Sensory Processing Vulnerability: Children with ASD and ADHD are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of poor sleep and unresolved ENT issues due to differences in sensory processing. This can lead to hypersensitivity (being easily overwhelmed) or hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) to sensory input. 🎧😖😫
✅Early Intervention Is Crucial: Early detection and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing and ENT problems are critical. Even short periods of sleep disruption in early childhood can have a lasting impact on brain development and function. ⏰🏃‍♀️🏃
✅Holistic Approach to Care: A team approach involving parents, pediatricians, ENTs, sleep specialists, and other healthcare providers is essential to provide comprehensive and individualized care for children with ADHD, ASD, and related challenges. 👨‍⚕️🤝👩‍⚕️
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ABOUT THE GUEST: Dr. David McIntosh is a Pediatric ENT Specialist with a particular interest in airway obstruction, facial and dental development and its relationship to ENT airway problems, and middle ear disease. Dr. McIntosh has undertaken advanced surgical training in ENT and Head and Neck Surgery and Paediatric training at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.
His books include: * Don’t Ignore the Snore (2020)* Snored to Death (Are You Dying in Your Sleep) (2020)* Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A Parent Guide (2023)* A Parent's Guide to ENT (2024)* The ABC of ENT, ASD, and ADHD (2024)
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ABOUT THE HOST: Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM® is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, an International speaker, and author.
She is the owner of San Diego Center For Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy. She currently serves as a mentor and consultant to patients, professionals, and colleagues nationally and internationally in the field of OMT. For more on Nicole, visit her practice: www.sandiegocenterforspeechtherapy.com.