Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Care

Trust University Children’s Health ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors to protect your child’s hearing, voice and ability to breathe as they grow and develop.

What Is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist?

Pediatric otolaryngologists diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and disorders that affect children’s ears, nose and sinuses, and voice and throat. They also have expertise and training to care for allergies, hearing and balance problems, head and neck cancers, and perform surgery.

When to Get ENT Care

Rely on your pediatric primary care doctor for help with routine ear, nose, and throat problems. Ask for a referral to an ENT specialist when your child has severe or frequent symptoms, such as:

• Abnormal breathing
• Ear, nose or throat pain
• Head or neck mass
• Nosebleeds
• Snoring
• Swallowing problems

Pediatric ENT Conditions We Treat

Turn to highly trained pediatric ENT doctors at University Health when your infant, child or adolescent up to age 18 needs evaluation and care for complex and rare conditions, including:

• Adenoid enlargement
• Airway obstructions (narrowing or blockages in the upper throat)
• Allergic rhinitis
• Balance problems
• Ear, nose and throat abnormalities present at birth, such as laryngomalacia, branchial anomalies, choanal atresia (narrowing of the back of the nose) and microtia (abnormal ear shape)
• Feeding and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
• Frequent nose and sinus problems, such as nose bleeds (epistaxis) and infections (sinusitis)
• Head and neck masses
• Hearing loss
• Recurrent ear infections
• Sleep problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea
• Tongue and lip tie
• Tonsillitis
• Vocal cord disorders, including nodules and paralysis

Pediatric Hearing & Balance Care and Treatment

Get complete pediatric hearing and balance treatments at University Health. We specialize in:

• Congenital (present at birth) hearing loss
• Genetic testing for hearing loss
• Bone-anchored hearing devices, such as a cochlear implant

What to Expect

At the first appointment, expect your ENT doctor to ask about your child’s medical history, do a physical exam and listen to their symptoms. Your doctor may recommend testing to help diagnose your child’s symptoms. 

Pediatric ENT Testing & Diagnosis

Get compassionate, kid-friendly care to help ease your child’s testing fears. We do some tests in our office on the same day as your appointment, while others need scheduling. Your child may have tests such as:

• Bronchoscopy 
• Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES)
• Flexible, fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopy – Evaluates the throat, voice box and vocal cords 
• Hearing tests with an on-site audiologist
• Imaging tests, such as an X-ray, CT or MRI scan
• Laryngoscopy – Checks the throat, larynx, trachea and bronchi (tubes leading to the lungs)
• Microscopic ear exam
• Nasal endoscopy
• Sleep study
• Stroboscopy – Evaluates vibrations of the vocal cords
• Transnasal endoscopy – Looks at the esophagus to detect problems

Pediatric ENT Treatments

Depending on your child’s condition, your ENT doctor may recommend nonsurgical or surgical ENT treatments. Feel confident you’ll get a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs.

Your Pediatric ENT Multidisciplinary Care Team

Your child’s ENT care team at University Children’s Health includes compassionate UT Health San Antonio doctors and dedicated staff, such as: 

• Audiologists 
• Child Life specialists
• Nurse practitioners
• Respiratory therapists 
• Social workers
• Speech-language pathologists 

Comprehensive Specialty Care

As an academic medical center, University Health has all physician specialties available around the clock. If necessary, your child may receive care for the most complex ENT disorders in coordination with:

• Cardiologists (heart care) and cardiothoracic surgeons
• Oral, craniomaxillofacial, and plastic surgeons
• Neurosurgeons
• Gastroenterologists (digestive care)
• Oncologists (cancer care)
• Pulmonologists (lung and breathing care)
• Trauma specialists

Pediatric ENT Support Services

Expect the best possible care and support services at University Health. You’ll appreciate:

• Pediatric anesthesiologist coverage for all surgical procedures
• Private patient rooms featuring a pullout bed for family members for hospital overnight stays
• Social work and treatment-related financial counseling
• Interpreter services