Pediatric ENT Disorders
Ear Disorders
Many children experience ear pain at some point in their lives. This can be due to a cold or sinus infection, but sometimes ear pain is caused by something more serious like chronic ear infections or ruptured ear drums. It is important for parents to understand that an earache may not always be as simple as it seems and can be a sign of a larger problem. If you suspect your child’s earache might be due to something other than the common cold, contact your Pediatric ENT.
- Ear Infections
- Swimmer’s Ear
- Audiological Diagnostic Testing
- Congenital Childhood Hearing Loss
- Ear Deformities
Ear Infection
A common problem for children is ear pain due to an ear infection. A virus, bacteria, or yeast can cause ear infections. Most ear infections are viral, but bacterial, and yeast infections may also cause pain. Children usually experience fever, redness in the ears, and hearing loss as symptoms of an ear infection.
Treatments typically include antibiotics, antifungals, topical medications, and pain relievers such as ibuprofen. If your child has these symptoms, they need to see a pediatric ENT specialist who can help them manage their discomfort and get on the road to recovery.
Ear Tubes
Kids can be most commonly treated with tympanostomy tubes. A pediatric ENT will first diagnose the cause of your child’s ear pain. If it’s due to fluid buildup, your doctor may place ear tubes.
If you suspect your child’s earache might be due to something other than the common cold, contact your Pediatric ENT immediately.
Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear, also called otitis externa, is an infection of the ear canal. It is caused by water that stays in the ear after swimming or bathing. Swimmers can be more prone to the condition because of the constant flow of wetness and bacteria into the canal. Symptoms often include itching, pain, and redness in the ear.
Fortunately, there are treatments for swimmer’s ears. With proper treatment, most people with swimmer’s ear can get relief from their symptoms.
Typical treatments include:
- Antibiotic ointments or drops such as bacitracin, neomycin, erythromycin, or gentamicin
- Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen
- Oral antibiotics if a bacterial infection is suspected
- Topical corticosteroids to reduce swelling.
Audiological Diagnostic Testing
Audiological diagnostic testing can help identify the potential cause of your child’s ear pain and, in some cases, even pinpoint the problem. The audiologist will first use an otoscope device to look into your child’s ears. The otoscope is a small tube with a light at one end that illuminates the ear canal and lets the doctor see how deep it goes. Testing is done in the office for those six months and older.
Test results include hearing loss, fluid buildup behind the eardrum, or middle-ear infection (otitis media). If a serious problem is found, treatment may be prescribed or surgery performed. With appropriate treatment, children usually recover quickly and without any lasting effects.
Congenital Childhood Hearing Loss
Congenital Childhood Hearing Loss is a term that refers to hearing loss that is present at birth. The most common causes of congenital hearing loss are genetic (inherited) and include syndromes such as Usher syndrome, Stickler syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome, and Down Syndrome. Cochlear implants can be surgically implanted to provide an effective means for some children with moderate or severe to profound hearing loss. They can be programmed to fit the needs of each individual child.
They function by converting sound waves into electrical impulses, which are transmitted to the brain via electrodes placed near the round window in the ear canal.
Diagnostic Testing
Pediatric ENTs utilize diagnostic testing to determine the cause of your child’s ear pain. An otoscope, or lighted scope, is used for this purpose. If the ears appear healthy, then a tympanogram may be done to determine if there are middle-ear problems like fluid and infection. Other diagnostic tests include an audiogram, hearing screening, and X-rays of the head and neck area to check for conditions like impacted ear wax or enlarged adenoids.
Your pediatric ENT may perform diagnostic testing if they experience chronic ear infections. This may indicate a narrowing of their Eustachian tubes, which can be treated with tube dilation or other procedures. Further x-rays may reveal enlarged adenoids that could be removed to improve breathing and relieve pressure on your child’s Eustachian tubes.
If you suspect your child’s earache might be due to something other than the common cold, contact your Pediatric ENT immediately.
Ear Deformities
Ear deformities can occur due to many reasons. These include the shape of the ear canal, an infection in the middle ear, allergies, and ear infections. A pediatric ENT specialist can diagnose and treat these problems accordingly.
With ear deformities, it’s best to monitor them closely while working with a plastic surgery team to get the best care. Treatments can include bone-anchored hearing aids. If your child is experiencing pain due to ear deformities, make sure to see your pediatric ENT specialist for a checkup and an accurate diagnosis.
If you suspect your child’s earache might be due to something other than the common cold, contact your Pediatric ENT immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? We are here to help.
An audiologist is a licensed, certified professional who specializes in helping patients with hearing loss. While OTC devices do not require a diagnostic hearing test, they do rely on the consumer to determine if they have perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Many people are not able to accurately determine their degree of hearing loss. A diagnostic hearing test completed with an audiologist will provide accurate information on both the degree and type of hearing loss.
An audiologist can then help you determine if OTC or prescription hearing aids are right for your communication needs, or if you need a consultation with an otologist (ear physician). The hearing test can also be useful to self-fit an OTC device or to precisely program a prescription device. There is an overwhelming amount of information available on hearing technologies, and your audiologist can provide clarity and direction to ease you through the process to improved communication.
If you do decide to purchase your hearing aid with us, we offer servicing of the device and maintenance that would not be included in the purchase of an OTC device, as well as a warranty for repairs and device malfunction, which many patients find of value when making such a large purchase. Please reach out to our dedicated audiology receptionist at 401-626-3748 for more information.
Univoto participates with the following plans: Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield of RI, Cigna, Medicare, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Tricare, Tufts Health Plan, United Health Plan, Harvard, Coventry (First Health), Humana Senior Plans.
Please note that Tufts Health Plan and Harvard become Point32Health, and merge, as of January 2024.
Also, keep in mind that there are some plans that look like a Cigna plan that actually go through a third-party benefit administrator such as ‘MultiPlan’. We are not in network with those plans. We recommend verifying with your insurance company directly that we are in network. Provide them our Tax ID 05-0319479, and the practice name ‘University Otolaryngology’, and they should be able to verify our participation.
The best way to know if OTC hearing aids will work for you is to see an audiologist for a comprehensive hearing evaluation. This evaluation will show you the degree of hearing loss and the part of the ear—outer, middle, or
inner—that is causing your hearing loss. This information, taken together, will help you decide whether an OTC hearing aid is your best choice or if your needs would be better addressed by a prescription hearing aid.
OTC hearing aids will work if you have a mild to moderate hearing loss. They are not effective for a moderate to severe degree of hearing loss. You must be 18 years or older to wear OTC hearing aids. Children should never wear them.
You must consult a medical provider before buying an OTC hearing aid if you have any of the following medical conditions:
- ear deformity
- fluid, pus, or blood coming from the ear
- hearing loss or ringing (tinnitus) that occurs in only one ear or that is noticeably different in one ear
- pain or discomfort in the ear
- history of excessive earwax or feeling that something is in the ear
- pain or discomfort in the ear
- sudden, quickly worsening, or fluctuating hearing loss
- vertigo or severe dizziness
Many places may sell OTC hearing aids: your local pharmacy, big-box stores such as Walmart, or online providers. You will make the decision about what you buy, just like any other item on the shelf. You may be able to ask store staff for help; however, these staff members likely do not have specialized training in hearing loss and hearing technology programming. It is important to read all information on the box before buying a device. You may not be able to return the hearing aids once you buy them.
Audiologists have extensive training in ear, hearing, and balance disorders and have either a doctoral or master’s degree. They can explain your hearing loss and help you consider the hearing aid that is best for you. Some audiologists will help you with basic maintenance of your OTC hearing aid for a service fee.
An audiologist is the expert in hearing health care—–they can help you find a device and supply tips for you and your individual hearing needs. They will also be able to check your hearing over time to see if it remains stable or worsens. Regular check-ins are important: they reveal whether your chosen hearing aid (OTC or prescription) is
providing enough sound to meet your hearing needs—– or whether you and your audiologist should discuss other options. The common goal between you as the patient and the audiologist as the provider is to help you create a plan and a path toward improved hearing.