Pediatric ENT

What conditions are treated by a pediatric ENT specialist?

Pediatric ENT problems can begin at birth. For example, ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) is a congenital condition that restricts tongue movement and can interfere with a baby’s ability to suck properly.

As they grow, children face many possible problems that are expertly treated by the trained ENT specialists at West Shore ENT & Allergy, including:

• Sinusitis
• Tonsillitis
• Ear infections
• Hearing loss
• Asthma and allergies
• Chronic runny nose
• Nasal obstruction
• Swallowing disorders
• Chronic nosebleeds

The team at West Shore ENT & Allergy also treats children with neck tumors, congenital ear deformities, and cleft lip and palate.

What procedures are performed by pediatric ENT specialists?

While surgery is always the last option in treating pediatric ENT conditions, there are times when it’s the best course of action to prevent problems from getting worse or to relieve an ongoing (chronic) condition. These are a few examples of the procedures most commonly performed in children:

Myringoplasty and tympanoplasty

These procedures are done to repair a perforated eardrum. A myringoplasty temporarily plugs the hole, giving the body’s healing process time to work. 

During a tympanoplasty, your doctor at West Shore ENT & Allergy replaces the missing part of the eardrum using cartilage taken from behind the ear.

Ear tube surgery

Children who get frequent ear infections or who have fluid trapped behind the eardrum might need to have an ear tube implanted. The tube allows fluids to drain and improves ear ventilation.

Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy

When your child frequently develops sore throats or strep throat due to infected tonsils and/or adenoids, your doctor at West Shore ENT & Allergy could recommend removing them.

What hearing services are available for children?

The ability to hear is essential to learn to talk and to develop social skills. If you suspect your child has a hearing loss, schedule a screening at West Shore ENT & Allergy as soon as possible.

Hearing screenings are based on each child’s age and development. In some cases, your doctor at West Shore ENT will watch your child’s reaction to changes in sounds. Testing a toddler’s hearing can be done by making it into a game — every time they hear a sound they move a game piece.

Whenever possible, a full behavioral audiometry evaluation is done to test the function in all parts of the ear. For this test, though, the child must be fully alert and able to respond appropriately.

To schedule an appointment for your child, call West Shore ENT & Allergy or use the online booking feature today.