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Comment by Geee | Hacker News Reader

Why would someone breathe through their mouth if there's no nasal congestion. I'm pretty sure that you'd have to be cognitively impaired to begin with.

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Can I ask where and how you developed your knowledge about the relationship between breathing and intelligence? Is this common knowledge where you are from? How often are you aware of how others are breathing? Is this something discussed in your family or friendship groups?

Someone who breathes through their mouth keeps their mouth open, which is easy to observe. Someone might keep their mouth open for other reasons, such as being overwhelmed or surprised. This might explain why the mentally impaired might be observed with their mouth open more often than normal people. I'm not sure if there's a connection, but if there is, I would assume that mental impairment is the cause rather than mouth breathing.

Come on that's half an answer! Is this something you've known for ages? Is it something you remember learning from adults when you were growing up? Why do you personally have an opinion about this at all?

No, I haven't heard of this connection until recently. I've seen 'mouthbreather' used as a derogatory term online, which is probably where I've seen it the first time.

Top entry for 'mouthbreather' on Urban Dictionary is from 2017: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mouthbreathe...

Its way older than 5 years old. Wonderfalls (2004) had a character refered to the mouth breather in derogatory way. I know my brother used that in similar way growing up but im sure there are better/older references but those are mine.

Because:

1. Some people's nasal passages are partially or fully clogged.

2. Even when fully open, there is not enough airflow through the nose to facilitate anything more strenuous than light walking.

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