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Can Breathing diffc cause brain develo?
Can long-term nose blockage and breathing difficulty cause slow brain development and low IQ?
My son is 22 years old. He couldn’t complete graduation and always had poor scores in school. Recently, doctors confirmed he has low IQ and intellectual disability.
Since birth, he always had running nose and thick mucus (yellow or green). His nose often got blocked, and he had difficulty breathing through his nose. Even after cleaning, it used to fill again within minutes. We neglected this problem for many years. At age 18, we consulted an ENT doctor and it got cured.
Now I have a question —
Can long-term mucus-filled nose and breathing difficulty since childhood affect brain development or cause low IQ, even if the body growth is normal (taller and bigger than others)?
Or this cannot be the reason for his low IQ?
MRI of brain is not yet done. Should we get it done to check for any effect on brain development?
Answers (6)
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Lack of oxygen can cause brain damage and low IQ specially in a growing brain mainly during or before birth. Low IQ can be due to many reasons. Nose blockage and as a result breathing difficulties during childhood are quite common and not directly linked to low IQ development. Rather more common causes are thyroid hormone issues, genetic factors, brain injury around delivery time.
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MRI brain would be a good option and also a psychometry test
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Low IQ can be due to many causes in a child. Blocked nose per se doesn't cause low IQ but if the nasal block is associated with adenoid hypertrophy, snoring , frequent pneumonias etc , it can cause delay in development or low IQ. Your child needs to be evaluated completely by a pediatrician. Get an MRI brain done to see for any changes in the brain.
As a clinician we need detailed history and examination before commenting anything.
For further queries, you can chat personally.
Best wishes
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I totally understand your concern. Before suggesting treatment, I would like to ask a few questions to ensure the correct management can be provided.
Contact me on Practo or WhatsApp chat.
Contact number: 97012307 two nine
Dr. G. Avinash MBBS, MD (Pediatrics) Fellowship in Neonatology
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Dr. Venkatesh Badugu
Pediatrician
9 yrs exp
Hyderabad
blocked nose doesn't cause Low IQ
Just Do MRI so that you will come to know any brain damage occured or not
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Dr. Bhatt Vivek Prafulchandra
Pediatrician
5 yrs exp
Rajkot
Consult with Pediatrician physically for further evaluation and treatment
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.