Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders
Nosebleeds, swallowing problems, ear infections: When head and neck problems won't go away, your child can suffer daily. It may be time to see a children's ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
At UVA Health Children's, our expert pediatric ENT specialists (called otolaryngologists) create custom treatment plans for your child and support their special emotional needs. We have access to the latest research and the newest resources, helping us provide the most advanced options.
Our team also works with other specialists at UVA Health Children's, like audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Through these partnerships, we've created specialty care teams for your child's particular needs, including:
- Aerodigestive team
- Cleft lip and palate team and clinic
- Vascular anomalies team
- Cochlear implantation team
Conditions We Treat
- Airway and breathing evaluation and management
- Aural atresia
- Cleft lip and palate
- Ear deformities
- Hearing loss
- Ear infection management
- Swimmer's ear
- Tonsilitis
- Nosebleed management
- Head and neck tumor removal
- Obstructive sleep apnea
Children With Hearing Loss: Surgical Options
For children with congenital or acquired hearing loss (from light to profound), we offer surgical options to restore hearing.
Aural Atresia Repair
Parents from all over the world bring their children to UVA Health Children's for aural atresia repair. Aural atresia is a congenital condition in which the ear canal, eardrum, middle ear space, and ear bones do not form properly. The surgery opens the ear canal and restores the ear’s natural sound-conducting mechanisms.
Cochlear Implants
Children with severe and profound hearing loss may benefit from cochlear implants. These tiny devices are surgically implanted into the inner ear and provide critical sound information. As a result, children with severe to profound hearing loss may be able to develop normal speech and language. The operation generally takes 2-3 hours and is performed in an outpatient setting. Your child won't need an overnight stay in the hospital.
Cleft Lip & Palate
Cleft palate is not just a simple surgical disease. This defect impacts so many different aspects of your child's life that many teams are involved in care. Such a complex condition requires both depth of experience and expert skill. At UVA Health Children's, you can trust we have both. In fact, we have one of the few cleft teams in the state certified by the American Cleft Palate Association.
Airway Enlargement
Subglottic stenosis, or narrowing of the airway or voice box, can make it difficult for your child to swallow and breathe. This can cause a lot of anxiety, as well as discomfort and pain. With endoscopic techniques, we can often avoid larger surgeries and instead use special balloons to stretch the airway. More severe cases may require open surgery to enlarge that area of the throat. Whichever method your child needs, we’re here to provide a child-focused experience that returns your child to eating, drinking and breathing with ease.
Partnering With Audiology & Speech Therapy for Comprehensive Care
Audiologists and speech therapists provide thorough evaluations to test and understand your child’s ear or throat condition. After surgical procedures, they play a critical role in helping your child adapt to new or improved abilities. These teams also treat dizziness, balance issues and ear noise, issues that occur from damage to the inner ear. At UVA Health Children's, we specialize in serving children with disabilities, addressing your child’s hearing and speech challenges with experienced care.