Soroush Zaghi, MD

Soroush Zaghi, MD Highly specialized treatment of nasal obstruction, chronic mouth breathing, snoring, and obstructive

Dr. Zaghi graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed a 5-year residency training in Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA. He completed Sleep Surgery Fellowship as Clinical Instructor of Otolaryngology at Stanford University. The focus of his specialty training is on Sleep Endoscopy, CPAP Optimization, Frenuloplasty, Myofunctional Therapy, and Maxillofacial Airway Reconstruction for the treatment

of nasal obstruction, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea. He is very active in clinical research relating to sleep disordered breathing with over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles relating to neuroscience, head and neck surgery, and obstructive sleep apnea. Research interests include: Study design, literature review, and statistical analysis. Special interest in collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects relating to airway and breathing disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, nasal obstruction, catathrenia, myofunctional therapy, rapid maxillary expansion, maxillary mandibular advancment, facial and airway reconstruction. Clinical interests: Airway and Breathing Disorders, Snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Nasal Obstruction, Maxillary Expansion, Maxillary-Mandibular Advancement, Facial and Airway Reconstruction Surgery, Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation, Functional Septorhinoplasty, Turbinate Reduction, Frenuloplasty, Sinus Surgery, and Aesthetic Jaw Surgery (Genioplasty).

03/18/2026

Fluid in the ears isn’t just an ear problem 👂

Fluid in the middle ear—called a middle ear effusion—can affect hearing, comfort, and increase infection risk.

The key structure is the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and helps:
• Ventilate the ear
• Equalize pressure
• Drain fluid

When it doesn’t open properly, fluid builds up behind the eardrum.

Here’s what many people miss:

The Eustachian tube depends on muscle function.

It opens with muscles of the palate and throat—activated during:
• Nasal breathing
• Proper tongue posture (tongue on the palate)
• Efficient chewing and swallowing

When kids have:
• Mouth breathing
• Low tongue posture
• Weak lip seal

These muscles don’t work efficiently → the ear can’t drain well.

Structure can also contribute:
• Enlarged adenoids or tonsils
• Narrow palate
• Tongue-tie

That’s why treatment may include:
• Myofunctional therapy
• Improving nasal breathing
• Tongue mobility evaluation
• Palatal expansion (when appropriate)

Ear tubes can help—but long-term success often means addressing the root cause.

⸻

If your child has persistent fluid, look at:
• Breathing (nose vs mouth)
• Tongue posture
• Swallowing patterns
• Lip seal
• Airway development

Better function → better ear health.

⸻

I’m Dr. Soroush Zaghi—your go-to expert for sleep, breathing, and airway health.
Follow for more on how to breathe better and function better—with a natural-minded, holistic, and functional approach.

⸻

03/03/2026

Better Breathing After Tonsillectomy Requires More Than Surgery 👃

Removing obstruction is only the first step.

Procedures like tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and nasal surgery can open the airway — but they don’t automatically retrain breathing habits, tongue posture, or oral muscle function.

Many children develop compensatory patterns during years of nasal obstruction:

• Mouth breathing
• Low tongue posture
• Weak lip seal
• Inefficient chewing and swallowing

If these patterns aren’t retrained, they can persist — and symptoms may return over time.

Teaching children how to breathe through their nose and use their oral muscles correctly is what helps surgical results last.

Research shows that children who receive myofunctional therapy after surgery are significantly more likely to maintain improvements long-term.

The key window to begin retraining:
About 2–4 weeks after surgery — once healing improves, but before old habits re-establish.

The long-term goals are functional:

• Continuous nasal breathing
• Proper tongue posture (tongue resting on the roof of the mouth)
• Efficient chewing
• Mature swallowing with lips closed and no forward tongue push

This is where myofunctional therapists and airway-focused dentists play an important role in guiding development and monitoring progress.

And if time has passed, it’s never too late to consider therapy — especially if symptoms are persisting or returning.

Surgery creates space.
Function determines how that space is used.

—

I’m Dr. Soroush Zaghi—your go-to expert for sleep, breathing, and airway health.
Follow for more on how to breathe better and function better—with a natural-minded, holistic, and functional approach.

⸻

🔖Guilleminault C, Huang YS, Monteyrol PJ, Sato R, Quo S, Lin CH.
Critical role of myofascial reeducation in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing.
Sleep Medicine. 2013;14(6):518–525.









01/15/2026

What does the color of your mucus really mean? 👃🧬

Your mucus isn’t random — it’s your body’s real-time health report.

White = normal protection
Yellow = immune system activating
Green = strong immune response (that green color comes from myeloperoxidase inside white blood cells)
Red = blood / irritation
Brown = old blood, dust, smoke, debris
Black = heavy pollution or environmental exposure

Your nose is your first line of immune defense.
If it can’t filter what you’re breathing, that “crud” goes straight into your lungs.

That’s why nasal hygiene matters:
✔️ Saline spray
✔️ Xylitol spray
✔️ Saline rinses
✔️ Sometimes saline + a drop of baby shampoo

Protect your nose.
Protect your lungs.
Protect your health.

💬 Was this helpful? Let me know what you think!

I’m Dr. Soroush Zaghi — your go-to expert for sleep, breathing, and airway health.
Follow for more on how to breathe better and function better — with a natural-minded, holistic, and functional approach.

12/18/2025

👅 How to Check Tonsils When the View Is Tricky

Sometimes it’s easy to see the back of the throat.
But in kids—or adults—with large tonsils, mouth breathing, tongue-tie, or a narrow palate, the view can be much harder.

Instead of tonsils, all you see is hard palate.
That’s often a Mallampati class 4 view—and it’s an important clue.

A few key tips that can make a big difference:
✔️ Sit upright
✔️ Use the sniffing position (chin neutral, gentle neck extension)
✔️ Avoid chin-tuck or over-extension
✔️ Ask for a gentle tongue extension and “ahhh”
✔️ Try slow mouth breathing to relax the throat

If the tonsils still aren’t visible, that’s not a failure—it’s information.
A crowded throat and limited view often go hand-in-hand with airway restriction.

In those cases, further evaluation—like a CBCT or flexible scope exam—may be helpful to understand what’s happening beyond what you can see.

💬 Parents and providers:
Have you ever struggled to get a clear view of the tonsils?
What techniques have helped—or what questions do you still have?

—

I’m Dr. Soroush Zaghi—your go-to expert for sleep, breathing, and airway health.
Follow for more on how to breathe better and function better—with a natural-minded, holistic, and functional approach.

11/27/2025

Mold in the home is a potentially serious health hazard — not just something to wipe away or ignore.

For some individuals, especially those with genetic susceptibility, ongoing mold exposure can contribute to sinus symptoms, airway irritation, fatigue, brain fog, sleep disruption, and chronic inflammation.

So instead of asking “How do I clean it?”
Ask:

➡️ “Where is the moisture coming from?”

Because the rule is simple:

No water → no moisture → no mold.

Certain building features can make mold more likely: flat roofing, inadequate drainage, enclosed bathrooms without ventilation, and slab foundations without v***r barriers. These can all increase moisture retention inside the home.

And beyond design, everyday moisture sources — humidifiers, recurring bathroom steam, under-sink leaks, window condensation, and rain sneaking in under balcony sliders — can also contribute.

A simple place to start is adding a dehumidifier — especially if you live in a coastal or humid region.
Keeping indoor humidity around 40–50% — and below 55% — can make a meaningful difference in preventing mold growth while still protecting airway comfort and sleep.

⸻

🟢 Share this with someone who keeps cleaning mold instead of investigating it.
🟢 And tell me — what have you learned about dealing with mold?

Whether it’s testing, remediation experience, inspector recommendations, or home strategies — your insight could help someone who doesn’t yet know where to begin.
If you have credible resources, professional contacts, or testing tools, drop them below — community knowledge truly matters here.

⸻

10/17/2025

⚡Could restricted tongue mobility really affect posture, breathing, and even cause numbness in the arms? 🤔👉 Let’s learn from this case study.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) occurs when nerves or blood vessels that pass from the neck into the arms become compressed — often between the collarbone and the first rib. This can lead to tingling, numbness, weakness, or even pain in the arms and shoulders.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. 👇
In patients with hypermobility, the connective tissue is looser and less supportive, which can lead to forward head posture and increased tension through the neck and shoulders.

A tongue-tie adds another layer to that tension. It’s a condition where a band of connective tissue under the tongue restricts its mobility and connects tightly to the floor of the mouth. That restriction can extend through the fascia of the neck and even the diaphragm, influencing posture, breathing, and overall body alignment.

When that restriction is released, the fascia can relax, the head and neck can come back, and compression patterns in the thoracic outlet often improve.
That’s why some patients notice immediate changes in posture, breathing, and arm symptoms after a tongue-tie release.

Many people ask me about the relationship between tongue-tie and hypermobility. The truth is, patients with hypermobility are more sensitive to restrictions. Their connective tissue is already loose, so a tongue-tie stands out more — and releasing it can make a profound difference.

✨ A small change in one area can have a big impact throughout the body.

Have you ever seen something like this in yourself or your patients?

—
I’m Dr. Soroush Zaghi — your go-to expert for sleep, breathing, and airway health.
Follow for more on how to breathe better and function better — with a natural-minded, holistic, and functional approach.

05/29/2024

Lingual Frenuloplasty for Posterior Tongue-Tie

This video highlights advances in the surgical technique with a precision-based approach to releasing the restrictive lingual frenulum as well as the repair with sutures and periacryl glue. Key anatomical landmarks and the necessary depth of release are reviewed, along with specific endpoints that ensure the effectiveness of the procedure.

The Breathe Course is coming up next week! We go into all the details of the procedure and much more! It’s available in person, live stream, and on-demand. https://www.breathecourses.com/

Sleep is essential for every age! Here’s a quick guide on how much healthy sleep you should aim for:- Preschoolers (3-5 ...
05/16/2024

Sleep is essential for every age! Here’s a quick guide on how much healthy sleep you should aim for:

- Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours per day
- School-Age Children (6-13 years): 9-11 hours per night
- Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours per night
- Adults (18-64 years): 7-9 hours per night

Adequate sleep plays a crucial role in emotional, cognitive, and physical functioning. For children and teens, sleep supports growth and development, helping them thrive in their daily activities. For adults, quality sleep enhances mental clarity, mood regulation, and overall well-being.

Getting the right amount of rest is key to feeling your best and staying healthy. Too much or too little sleep can be the sign of a problem!

🌙💤 📸Photo Credit: Chad Knutsen

04/05/2024

Join us in our upcoming Breathe Course
and Learn about our functional approach to sleep and breathing!

The traditional medical model just wants to alleviate disease, not prevent disease. That’s what we’re here to do in this course, understanding the root causes of things to prevent the fire before it even gets there.

📅 Dates Available: June 5th-8th OR October 16th-19th 2024

📍 Location: W Los Angeles -West Beverly Hills + Live Streamed Globally

🌐 For more information and to register, visit our website: www.breathecourses.com

🔔 Spaces are limited – secure your spot today and be part of this groundbreaking event. Whether in June or October, live or live-streamed, don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the team at The Breathe Institute.

04/05/2024

Typical day in the life of an ENT surgeon… Watch until the end for a laugh 🥰😂.

PALATAL FLUTTER SIGN: EXPLAINED CLEARLY!Palatal flutter is a test to predict the likely results of treatment in patients...
03/22/2024

PALATAL FLUTTER SIGN: EXPLAINED CLEARLY!

Palatal flutter is a test to predict the likely results of treatment in patients who snore.

Have the patient attempt to make a snoring sound with their mouth open, then have them perform lingual palatal suction (LPS) and attempt to make the snoring sound again with their tongue held against the palate.

Sign (+) Positive / Quiet: Patient is able to create palatal flutter noise with the mouth slightly open (mouth breathing) but is unable to create the same noise with the mouth closed, tongue up, nasal breathing*. (*=gentle nasal breathing, not strong nasal snorting).

Sign (-) Negative/ Loud: Patient can create the palatal flutter noise with the mouth slightly open (mouth breathing) and is able to create the same noise with the mouth closed, tongue up, nasal breathing*.

If they are QUIET with the tongue-up (POSITIVE SIGN),  they will probably snore much less when they keep their tongue-up!! —Consider mouth taping, myofunctional therapy, nasal hygiene AND/OR nasal, tonsil, soft-palate, tongue-tie (soft tissue) procedures.

If they are still LOUD with the tongue-up (NEGATIVE SIGN), then they will probably need a more thorough evaluation to fully resolve the snoring. ——Consider mouth taping, myofunctional therapy, nasal hygiene AND/OR nasal, tonsil, soft-palate, tongue-tie (soft tissue) procedures.…. as well as possible palate expansion, weight loss, oral appliance therapy, CPAP, jaw surgery.

What if you cannot flutter your palate? —Test does not apply to your case. —Probably do not have excessive soft palate redundancy. —And, if snoring or obstruction is present, may be related to other sites of obstruction: nasal passage, lateral pharyngeal wall, tongue-base, epiglottis.

Follow and !



=====
Reference: Adapted by Dr. Zaghi from Pang-Rotenberg sign—snoring surgery prognosticator: A prospective clinical trial of 153 patients. http://doi.org/10.1002/lary.25392

Address

10921 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 912
Los Angeles, CA
90024

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13105799710

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Soroush Zaghi, MD posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Soroush Zaghi, MD:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category