Pediatric Otolaryngology

Ear, nose, and throat disorders can range from common problems (such as ear infections, chronic cough, or nasal congestion) to more serious concerns (such as an airway obstruction or a mass in the neck). They can be problems your child was born with -- for example, a cleft lip or ear deformity -- or something that develops later on, such as thyroid or parathyroid disease.

It’s important to seek treatment for ENT disorders, as they can affect your child’s ability to:

• Balance
• Breathe
• Hear
• Participate in social or other activities
• Sleep
• Speak
• Succeed in school
• Swallow

We partner with other pediatric experts throughout Duke to provide the care your child needs.

Airway Disorder Specialists
We work with pediatric pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, speech pathologists, nutritionists, and social workers to care for children with airway obstructions or other problems that affect their ability to breathe or swallow.

Sleep Disorder Specialists
We collaborate with pediatric pulmonary and neurology doctors to diagnose and treat sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause your child to stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep.

Hearing Loss Specialists
If your child has hearing loss, we work with pediatric audiologists  and ENT surgeons to diagnose the cause and find an appropriate treatment. Treatments can include surgeries to manage chronic ear infections, place hearing devices such as cochlear implants, perform ear reconstruction, or place ear prostheses. Speech therapy can also address any speech delays.

Head and Neck Tumor Specialists
While they can be scary, most head and neck tumors are benign. Our ENT experts work with pediatric tumor experts to coordinate your child’s care. We coordinate care with medical and radiation oncologists to obtain biopsies for diagnosis and provide treatment if cancer is present.

Pediatric Voice Care Specialists
Our ENT team includes voice therapists who help children with hoarseness, vocal cord dysfunction, vocal cord lesions, or vocal cord paralysis.