Back-to-school can be a busy time, not just for parents and students, but for illnesses as well. The close quarters of a school environment become a breeding ground for germs, all while seasonal allergens are in full swing. What can parents do to prepare their children before school begins? We've put together a quick guide to help parents make back-to-school season a little healthier.
Hearing is a crucial part of a child’s cognitive and social development. Detecting hearing loss and getting treatment can affect a child’s ability to develop speech and language appropriately.
When a child starts making the distinctive "barking" coughs associated with croup, it can be concerning or even frightening to parent and child alike.
Summer is officially here, and along with it comes higher temperatures, sunny days, and fun in the sun, sand, surf, and sound! While you’re having fun this summer, remember to keep your ears and your hearing safe and protected.
Sometimes it’s hard to know whether you are experiencing an ear infection or a sinus infection because of the similarities in symptoms. Both diagnoses involve significant pressure or pain in the head/neck area and both infections may trigger a fever response in your body.
So, why is it important to know whether you’re suffering from a sinus infection or an ear infection? Because the treatment option selected will only be effective if you have the right diagnosis.
A tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure where enlarged or infected tonsils are removed. It's normal to feel anxious about your child undergoing this type of surgery, but there are steps you can take to make it easier for you both.
As parents, considering surgery for our children can be daunting. However, it is sometimes the best option. Such is the case when discussing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for persistent infections or difficulty sleeping.
Snoring is an issue that affects many adults but with children, snoring should not be ignored, as it can be a sign or symptom of something more significant than just noisy sounds at night.
Let’s take a look at the underlying issues that snoring may indicate and then discuss other symptoms to look for that make it clear it is time to bring your child to the doctor.
Noisy breathing is one of the most common complaints that ENT doctors hear from new parents, and in most cases it doesn't pose a serious threat and is easily managed.
However, noisy breathing can indicate a condition that may need a thorough medical evaluation. If your baby has noisy breathing, here are a few steps to think about that will help both parents and the treating physician understand the situation.
If you have been told that your child has failed a hearing test and will need a hearing aid, you may be wondering what you need to do next. Here are the next steps and how we can help.
Nosebleeds are a common occurrence for children of all ages and have various causes that range from benign to serious. In toddlers, nosebleeds are usually related to minor accidents, nose picking, inflammation, or dry winter air. Most nosebleeds stop a few minutes after pressure is placed on the nasal passages.
As a parent, you’re almost certain to deal with at least one nosebleed during your child’s life but if your toddler experiences frequent nosebleeds, you might need to seek medical assistance.
Hearing loss can affect your baby's ability to learn and develop speech and language appropriately. Fortunately, early detection of hearing loss can lead to preventive steps or treatment that will help your child reach these important developmental milestones.
Within the United States, one of every seven people will develop a nosebleed at some point in their lives. Nosebleeds are commonly caused by ruptures of the small blood vessels inside of your nose, and can sometimes be fairly frequent. We see them in patients of every age, but are most common in children and older adults.
If you’re faced with an upcoming surgery, details like health insurance may be the last thing on your mind. Nonetheless, understanding your health insurance coverage is important. There can be a lot of information to process - so figuring out which details apply to you under what circumstances can sometimes be overwhelming.
Below are some frequently asked questions (and answers) about health insurance and your upcoming surgery at Virginia Ear Nose & Throat.
Ear infections are often caused by fluid that is trapped in a child’s middle ear. This is a common problem in young children. Fluid build-up comes from poor Eustachian tube function. The Eustachian tube runs from the back of the nose to the middle ear. That’s how the middle ear ventilates. A child’s Eustachian tube is not fully formed. As a result, it has a hard time getting air into the middle ear space. As the air goes back into the body, the air isn’t replaced and it causes negative pressure in the middle ear. That causes fluid to build up.
If your child has persistent ear infections or has trouble hearing associated with frequent or chronic ear infections, your pediatrician might suggest seeing an ENT physician for ear tubes. Imagining your child needing any kind of procedure can be scary if you don’t understand the benefits. Understanding what ear tubes are, how they are inserted, what they do and how they can benefit your child is important in feeling comfortable with this simple and effective treatment.
Earwax, or cerumen, is a fatty substance produced by glands inside the ear that is often thought to clean, lubricate, and protect the lining of your ear. Earwax doesn't cause problems, but if it builds up, it can create obstructions in the ear canal; these obstructions are one of the most common problems ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians see.
People who have trouble hearing or parents of children who exhibit signs of hearing loss may wonder what to do to find out what is going on. While a lot of people associate loss of hearing with older people, sometimes children experience hearing loss because of ear infections, liquid in the ear, and other reasons. No matter what the age, when a person can’t hear very well, or they notice a decline in their ability to hear, it’s best to see an audiologist.
Snoring occurs when the soft tissues in the throat relax and partially block the airways. As air passes around the blockage, these tissues vibrate, producing a rattling sound. Snoring is fairly common in children. Many children snore occasionally, and around 10 percent snore on most nights. Let's take a closer look at what may be behind all that noise and what you can do to make it stop.
Adenoids are a lymphoid tissue that lies at the back of the nose at the top of the throat, behind the soft palate. Like any other lymphatic tissue, they respond to infection. When people have viral infections, adenoids and tonsils (made of the same type of tissue) enlarge to fight the infection.
As a child grows, their adenoids also grow. The adenoids reach peak size between the ages of 5-7. As the child gets older, the adenoids atrophy, or waste away, as the body finds other ways to fight the infection. By the teenage years, adenoids are usually very small, if not undetectable.
