Shaun McDaniel, age 13, of Effingham, S.C., for his question:

WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO SNORE?

Rasping sounds can come out of a sleeping person's throat. They are caused by a fluttering of the soft palate and the two strips of tissue at the throat's entrance as the sleeping person breathes through his open mouth. Older people snore more frequently than youngsters because they often lose the firmness and elasticity in the soft palate and tongue, making the vibration possible.

One is more likely to snore if he is lying on his back¬because the tongue and soft .tissues tend to drop toward the back of the throat. The sound can usually be stopped if the sleeping person turns onto his side.

Nose obstructions can also cause a snoring type sound. Children with enlarged adenoids sometimes fall into this snoring group.