Kids' Health Why Your Child Might Be Making Grunting Noises By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Vincent Iannelli, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO on November 23, 2019 facebook Jonathan B. Jassey, DO, is board-certified in pediatrics. He has been in private practice at Bellmore Merrick Medical in New York since 2007 and is the co-author of "The Newborn Sleep Book." Learn about our Medical Review Board Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Updated on January 13, 2020 Print If you notice your child is grunting, it may be a sign that he or she is having trouble breathing. By grunting, your child can raise the pressure in their lungs more than they can from a normal breath thereby getting more air into their lungs. Other kids do a similar thing by sighing, which can also be a sign of asthma. Other experts have found these kinds of sighing breaths in people with well-controlled asthma. So what is causing your child to have this grunting pattern of breathing? Without them having other symptoms, like coughing and wheezing, it can be hard to tell. Laura Natividad / Getty Images Signs of Breathing Difficulties Other signs or symptoms that a child may be having trouble breathing, also known as respiratory distress, include: Tachypnea: A fast breathing rateCyanosis: Bluish discoloration of a child's skinNasal flaringRetractions: A child's chest sinking in just below their neck and/or beneath their ribs with each breathWheezing: A tight musical or whistling sound that may be heard when a child breathes in or outStridor: A harsh, high-pitched sound that is heard when a child, usually with croup, breathes inA non-stop cough These signs can be seen in children with pneumonia, asthma, croup, and other lung problems. Another cause of grunting could be due to food caught in your child's lungs. If your child recently choked on something, like a piece of popcorn or a peanut, it could have gotten stuck in the lungs. If you are concerned this may have happened, check with your child's doctor. If you are concerned about any noises your child might be making, take them to the pediatrician. Your child's doctor can help rule out or diagnose conditions like asthma or croup. Grunting Without Breathing Problems If your child's grunting persists, does not seem related to breathing, and comes with other tic-like symptoms and repetitive movements, it could be a sign of Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition that causes people to repeat movements, make noises, and perform other tic behaviors. While some people can minimize or suppress their tics, tics are involuntary and largely out of control. In most cases, Tourette syndrome is diagnosed in childhood and is more common among boys. If your child does have Tourette syndrome, medications and psychological therapies can help keep their symptoms in check. Even without other symptoms, you likely should see your pediatrician make sure your child is in good health. They might order a chest X-ray, which can provide clues as to why your child is having difficulties. If your pediatrician is unclear what might be causing the grunting and it persists, an evaluation by a pediatric pulmonologist, a child lung specialist, might also be helpful. If their doctor suspects Tourette syndrome, they might recommend a consult with a pediatric neurologist. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cheifetz IM. Year in Review 2015: Pediatric ARDS. Respiratory Care. 2016;61(7):980-985. doi:10.4187/respcare.05017 Cutrera R, Baraldi E, Indinnimeo L. Management of acute respiratory diseases in the pediatric population: the role of oral corticosteroids. Ital J Pediatr. 2017;43(1):31. Published 2017 Mar 23. doi:10.1186/s13052-017-0348-x Chowdhury U, Heyman I. Tourette's syndrome in children. BMJ. 2004;329(7479):1356–1357. doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7479.1356