6 Signs Your Kid Should Visit A Pediatric ENT Doctor
Every parent worries about their kid needing medical attention, and a common visit for a child is going to a pediatric ENT doctor. Not all kids will need lots of pediatric otolaryngology care, but you should be aware of the signs that your child might need to pay a visit to the doctor.
Repeated Ear Infections
Some kids end up getting ear infections repeatedly. A lot of this boils down to the developmental state of the tubes in children's ears. In an adult, these tubes typically allow fluid build-up to drain. Unfortunately, the tubes aren't always well-developed in children. As the fluid fails to drain, it can become a place where bacteria will thrive, leading to recurring infections.
Hearing Trouble
Understandably, the same problems with the ears can cause hearing issues, too. Sometimes it's just due to drainage problems, but severe infections can also cause hearing loss. You will definitely want to get ahead of that possibility because the risk of permanent hearing loss is significant in severe cases.
Speech Issues
A lot of a kid's ability to develop speech comes from hearing it. Especially if there are undetected pediatric otolaryngology issues, a child may struggle because they're having hearing problems. Notably, a kid doesn't have to necessarily develop ear infections for this to occur. They may just struggle to hear because their ears are clogged or not developing well. Consequently, they will struggle to pick up language cues and translate those into speech.
At a minimum, you should rule out ENT concerns. If a pediatric ENT doctor says everything is fine, then you start looking at other possible sources of delayed speech development.
Throat Infections
Similar development-driven issues can strike a child's throat. For example, some families have genetically large tonsils that can become bases for infections. This is one of the main reasons many parents and doctors agree to remove children's tonsils and adenoids. Clearing out those tissues can often prevent infections.
Snoring
Generally, children shouldn't snore, especially at adult noise levels. The same issues that may cause throat infections can also drive snoring problems. Unsurprisingly, the solution is also frequently the same.
Nosebleeds or Stuffy Nose
Development problems in the nasal passages and sinuses can leave kids with chronic nosebleeds or snot. People often dismiss these issues because adults stereotype children as generally gross. However, a child may have a deviated septum or similar problem that causes problems in their nasal passages or sinuses.
For more information, contact a local pediatric ENT doctor.
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