Why Pediatric ENT Healthcare?
Because at Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery Associates, we recognize the occurrence of ear, nose, and throat conditions among patients of all ages, and therefore the need for ENT treatments. We specialize in helping children with their ENT conditions.
Conditions We Treat
Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy typically involves temporary paralysis on one side of the face, with potential symptoms such as facial weakness, drooping, or stiffness; drooling; jaw pain; and difficulty tasting, smiling, or closing the affected eye. It’s a rare condition that normally resolves itself, but medication may help with certain symptoms.
Children and Facial Trauma
Trauma can occur to a child’s face, neck, or ears, whether the result of a sports injury, an accident, a congenital abnormality, or another cause.
Children’s Hearing Loss
Signs and symptoms such as difficulty understanding speech, complaints of earaches or loud noise, failing grades, or the desire to use one ear over another can indicate hearing loss in a child. Early screening, diagnosis, and treatment are crucial to reduce the risk of academic, social, and communication difficulties.
Facial Sports Injuries
Whether from a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone, a swollen eye, or another condition, facial sports injuries can affect a child’s ability to breathe, eat, see, smell, or handle other crucial functions. Safety and protection are key to prevention, but it’s important to seek immediate medical help if injury occurs.
Infant Hearing Loss
Infant hearing loss involves the inability of one or both of a baby’s ears to fully function, which can result from a congenital problem, infection, trauma, or other source. Early screening, diagnosis, and treatment are crucial to reduce the risk of communication and other developmental difficulties.
Hearing Loss and Ear Infection
Ear infections aren’t unusual in childhood, but sometimes they keep coming back or won’t clear up with antibiotic treatment. They can lead to serious problems such as hearing loss and should be addressed quickly.
Allergies and Your Child’s Ears, Nose, and Throat
Rather than occur in a vacuum, allergies affect your child’s ears, nose, and throat due to the various potential symptoms — sneezing, coughing, and ear pressure, for example — and associations with other conditions such as ear infections, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Pediatric Sinusitis
Viral and bacterial sinus infections are common in children, who could be experiencing hay fever, a cold, or something more serious.
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and Children
Laryngopharyngeal reflux occurs when stomach acid that has backed up to the esophagus reaches the throat. Among infants this typically manifests as spit-up, but it normally subsides as their bodies develop and they spend more time upright.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Children
Excess noise can irreparably damage the inner ear’s tiny hair cells, which can lead to permanent hearing loss. Hearing protection; avoidance of sounds louder than 85 decibels; and careful use of MP3 players, earbuds, and headphones can help reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
Pediatric GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux or backflow of food from the stomach into the esophagus is not uncommon among healthy infants, who typically grow out of frequent reflux by about 1.5 years old. The failure of a key valve to keep stomach acid from backing into the esophagus, however, can result in gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
Pediatric Obesity and Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders
Obesity or excess body fat can put a child at risk of problems such as snoring, sleep apnea, and difficulty breathing. A medically approved regimen of healthful eating, exercise, and lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk.
Pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing/Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Snoring and breathing problems during sleep are just two potential symptoms of sleep apnea. The culprit could be enlarged tonsils or adenoids — especially common in kids — which may require surgical removal.
Children and Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the sensation of ringing, buzzing, humming, clicking, or other sounds in one or both ears that no one else can hear. It can indicate problems such as hearing loss, so it’s important to have your child evaluated if you suspect any symptoms.
Treatment & Procedure Options
Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants are small, surgically placed electronic devices comprising an external part behind the ear and an internal part under the skin that do the work of the damaged inner ear. They create the sensation of sound for pediatric and adult patients when profound hearing loss can’t be sufficiently improved by hearing aids.