Pediatric ENT—
Comprehensive Pediatric ENT Care
Children have unique ear, nose, and throat needs that can change as they grow. Problems such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids, recurrent ear infections, hearing loss, nasal obstruction, and sleep-disordered breathing can affect your child’s sleep, hearing, speech and language development, behavior, school performance, and overall quality of life.
Our pediatric ENT specialists evaluate and treat children with a wide range of ear, nose, throat, and airway conditions. We provide individualized care based on each child's symptoms, examination, hearing results, medical history, and developmental needs.
Common Reasons Parents Bring Their Children to an ENT
Parents may seek a pediatric ENT evaluation when a child has frequent ear infections, persistent fluid behind the eardrum, hearing difficulties, speech or language concerns, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, chronic nasal congestion, mouth breathing, snoring, sleep-disordered breathing, recurrent sinus infections, chronic sore throat, difficulty swallowing, frequent nosebleeds, or balance concerns.
An ENT evaluation may also be appropriate when symptoms begin to interfere with a child’s sleep, school performance, communication, or daily activities.
Pediatric ENT Services
Our goal is to determine the underlying cause of your child’s symptoms and recommend the least invasive treatment appropriate for their needs. Our pediatric ENT services include evaluation and treatment for:
Tonsils and Adenoids
The tonsils and adenoids are collections of lymphatic tissue that are part of the body's immune system. They are particularly active during early childhood and typically become less prominent as children grow.
When the tonsils or adenoids become enlarged or chronically infected, however, they can contribute to problems with breathing, sleep, swallowing, recurrent infections, and ear disease.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. It may be recommended for children with:
- Recurrent or severe tonsillitis
- Frequent throat infections
- Chronically enlarged tonsils
- Snoring caused by enlarged tonsils
- Sleep-disordered breathing
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Difficulty swallowing related to enlarged tonsils
- Certain complications of tonsil infections
Adenoidectomy
The adenoids are located behind the nose and can become enlarged, particularly in younger children. Enlarged adenoids can obstruct the nasal airway and interfere with normal Eustachian tube function.
Adenoidectomy may be considered for children with:
- Chronic nasal obstruction
- Persistent mouth breathing
- Snoring
- Sleep-disordered breathing
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Recurrent ear infections
- Persistent middle-ear fluid
- Chronic adenoiditis
- Recurrent or persistent nasal symptoms
Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Children
Does your child snore?
Occasional snoring can occur when a child has a cold or nasal congestion. Frequent or loud snoring, however, should not always be considered normal.
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are common causes of obstructed breathing during sleep.
Signs of Sleep-Disordered Breathing
- Loud or frequent snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Restless sleep
- Sleeping with the mouth open
- Unusual sleeping positions
- Frequent nighttime awakenings
- Bedwetting
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty waking in the morning
- Daytime sleepiness
- Irritability or behavioral changes
- Difficulty concentrating at school
Children with obstructive sleep apnea do not always appear sleepy during the day. Some children instead become hyperactive, irritable, or have difficulty concentrating.
Mouth Breathing and Nasal Obstruction
Children who consistently breathe through their mouths may have difficulty breathing normally through their nose.
Possible causes include enlarged adenoids, nasal allergies, chronic nasal inflammation, enlarged nasal turbinates, deviated nasal septum, and chronic sinus disease.
Symptoms may include chronic stuffy nose, mouth breathing, dry mouth, snoring, restless sleep, nasal-sounding speech, difficulty exercising, recurrent sore throat, and bad breath.
Ear Infections in Children
Ear infections are extremely common during childhood. The Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose, is smaller and positioned differently in young children. This can make it easier for fluid to accumulate behind the eardrum.
Symptoms may include ear pain, ear pulling, fever, irritability, difficulty sleeping, decreased hearing, balance problems, and changes in appetite.
Some ear infections resolve without antibiotics, while others require medical treatment. When ear infections become recurrent or fluid persists behind the eardrum, a comprehensive ENT evaluation may be appropriate.
Ear Tubes in Children
Ear tubes, also called tympanostomy tubes or ventilation tubes, are tiny tubes placed through the eardrum to allow air to enter the middle ear.
Ear tubes may be recommended for children with:
- Recurrent acute ear infections
- Persistent fluid behind the eardrum
- Hearing loss caused by middle-ear fluid
- Recurrent infections despite appropriate treatment
- Eardrum changes associated with chronic middle-ear disease
- Certain developmental or medical risk factors
Ear tubes can improve middle-ear ventilation, help restore hearing when fluid is present, reduce the frequency of some ear infections, reduce the duration of middle-ear fluid, and allow medication to be delivered directly into the middle ear when appropriate.
Most ear tubes remain in place for several months to a few years and eventually fall out naturally. The type of tube selected depends on the child's individual circumstances.
Hearing Loss in Children
Hearing is critical to speech and language development, learning, communication, and social development.
Hearing loss can occur at any age and may be temporary or permanent. Early identification and treatment are important.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot efficiently travel through the outer or middle ear.
Common causes include middle-ear fluid, ear infections, impacted earwax, perforated eardrum, and structural abnormalities of the outer or middle ear.
Many causes of conductive hearing loss can be treated medically or surgically.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss results from problems involving the inner ear or auditory nerve. It may be congenital or develop during childhood.
Depending on the cause and severity, treatment may include hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening technology, and educational or speech-language support.
Signs of Hearing Loss in Children
Infants
- Does not turn toward sounds
- Does not respond consistently to voices
- Delayed babbling
- Delayed speech development
Toddlers and Older Children
- Speech or language delay
- Frequently asks for repetition
- Turns the television volume up
- Has difficulty hearing in noisy environments
- Appears not to follow instructions
- Has difficulty at school
- Frequently misunderstands what is being said
- Reports difficulty hearing
Chronic Nasal Congestion and Sinus Problems in Children
Nasal congestion is common in children and may be related to allergies, viral infections, enlarged adenoids, or other causes.
Children with persistent or recurrent symptoms may experience chronic stuffy nose, nasal drainage, cough, facial pressure or discomfort, headaches, bad breath, reduced sense of smell, or recurrent sinus infections.
A comprehensive ENT evaluation can help determine whether symptoms are related to allergies, adenoid enlargement, chronic sinus inflammation, or another underlying condition.
Recurrent Nosebleeds in Children
Nosebleeds are common during childhood and are usually caused by irritation or dryness of the blood vessels in the front of the nose.
Common triggers include nose picking, dry air, allergies, frequent nose blowing, nasal irritation, and minor trauma.
Most childhood nosebleeds can be managed with simple measures. However, children with frequent, prolonged, or difficult-to-control nosebleeds may benefit from an ENT evaluation.
Speech and Language Concerns
Hearing plays an important role in normal speech and language development.
Children with persistent middle-ear fluid or hearing loss may have difficulty hearing speech clearly, particularly in noisy environments. If you have concerns about your child's speech or language development, hearing should be evaluated as part of the assessment.
Our comprehensive ENT team can evaluate for conditions affecting the ear and hearing and coordinate additional testing or treatment when appropriate.
When Should My Child See an ENT?
- Frequent ear infections
- Persistent fluid in the ears
- Hearing difficulties
- Speech or language concerns
- Loud or habitual snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Persistent nasal congestion
- Recurrent sinus infections
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chronic sore throat
- Balance problems
- Symptoms that interfere with sleep, school, or daily activities
You do not necessarily need to wait until symptoms become severe. Early evaluation can help identify problems and determine whether observation, medical treatment, hearing monitoring, or a procedure is appropriate.
Comprehensive ENT Care for Your Child
Our comprehensive ENT specialists provide evaluation and treatment for a broad range of pediatric ear, nose, throat, and airway conditions.
We take the time to understand your child's symptoms and work with parents and caregivers to develop an individualized treatment plan.
Whether your child needs observation, medical treatment, hearing evaluation, ear tubes, tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy, or further evaluation, our goal is to provide thoughtful, evidence-based care in a comfortable environment.
If you are concerned about your child's hearing, breathing, sleep, recurrent infections, or ear, nose, and throat symptoms, schedule an appointment with our comprehensive ENT team.
