Pediatric ENT Disorders
Voice Disorders
A pediatric otolaryngologist, or Pediatric ENT, can help with voice disorders. Voice disorders are typically the result of problems in how air passes through the vocal cords. The size and shape of a person’s vocal cords can be affected by many things, including age and weight.
Vocal Cord Granulomas/ Nodules
Vocal cord granulomas and nodules are common voice disorders in children. These conditions can cause hoarseness, sore throat, or pain. A pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) can diagnose and treat these conditions.
Treatments for vocal cord granulomas and nodules include surgery to remove the growths, injections of steroids directly into the larynx, and medications to help shrink the growths over time. As with any surgical procedure, there is some risk involved, but overall the risks of surgery are low. Knowing your child’s vocal symptoms is important to make an accurate diagnosis.
To diagnose a vocal cord granuloma or nodule, a pediatric otolaryngologist will review your child’s medical history and symptoms. They can perform a physical examination of your child’s neck and chest, which may show swollen tissue on the vocal cords. An X-ray or other imaging study may be done to rule out other possible diagnoses, such as cancer.
Pediatric ENTs will examine the vocal cords using a stroboscopic light and magnifying lens to look for abnormalities. These specialists may also recommend exercises to open the air passage for easier breathing and medications like antihistamines that relieve coughing or congestion. In severe cases where surgery is necessary, Pediatric ENTs can perform surgery to remove growths, reduce swelling, or repair damage to vocal cords.
Children suffering from voice disorders should always see a medical professional for advice and treatment options. Your child might suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. They could have acid reflux disease, making speaking difficult during an episode. Pediatric ENTs will work with patients and their caregivers to find what works best for each individual. Treatment options depend on the type and severity of the condition.
Vocal Cord Paralysis
Voice disorders are a common problem for children and adolescents and can be caused by many factors. Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists have extensive training in evaluating these problems. They can examine the vocal cords to determine if they are paralyzed. If they are not paralyzed, it may be an issue with the nerves that control them or a condition called spasmodic dysphonia.
Vocal cord paralysis is when one or both vocal cords cannot open and close normally. For example, when a child speaks, their voice might sound hoarse or muffled because they cannot fully close their throat while speaking. The ENT will ask you what symptoms your child has been experiencing and how long they have had those symptoms, then perform further examinations.
Pediatric ENTs will examine the vocal cords using a stroboscopic light and magnifying lens to look for abnormalities. These specialists may also recommend exercises to open the air passage for easier breathing and medications like antihistamines that relieve coughing or congestion. In severe cases where surgery is necessary, Pediatric ENTs can perform surgery to remove growths, reduce swelling, or repair damage to vocal cords.
Children suffering from voice disorders should always see a medical professional for advice and treatment options. Your child might suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. They could have acid reflux disease, making speaking difficult during an episode. Pediatric ENTs will work with patients and their caregivers to find what works best for each individual. Treatment options depend on the type and severity of the condition.
Vocal Cord Polyps
Vocal Cord Polyps are generally benign growths on the vocal cords that can affect a person’s voice. They’re caused by repeated misuse of the voice. This is fairly unusual in children but not for people who work in vocations that require constant use of their voice, such as teachers and singers, who are more prone to Vocal Cord Polyps.
Pediatric ENTs will examine the vocal cords using a stroboscopic light and magnifying lens to look for abnormalities. These specialists may also recommend exercises to open the air passage for easier breathing and medications like antihistamines that relieve coughing or congestion. In severe cases where surgery is necessary, Pediatric ENTs can perform surgery to remove growths, reduce swelling, or repair damage to vocal cords.
Children suffering from voice disorders should always see a medical professional for advice and treatment options. Your child might suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. They could have acid reflux disease, making speaking difficult during an episode. Pediatric ENTs will work with patients and their caregivers to find what works best for each individual. Treatment options depend on the type and severity of the condition.
Hoarseness/Laryngitis
You should consult a pediatric otolaryngologist if your child is suffering from hoarseness or laryngitis. These specialists are experts at diagnosing and treating voice disorders in children. They can perform in-office voice exams to determine the cause of vocal problems, prescribe appropriate treatments, and refer you to other specialists when necessary.
Hoarseness and laryngitis are from inflammation that affects the vocal folds, or they may have been paralyzed due to injury. The most common causes of these conditions are throat infections, allergies/hay fever, sinusitis/bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and tonsillar hypertrophy.
An ENT can tell which condition has caused your child’s voice disorder by performing an exam on their throat. It’s important to drink plenty of fluids so their throat doesn’t get even more inflamed and sore.
Pediatric ENTs will examine the vocal cords using a stroboscopic light and magnifying lens to look for abnormalities. These specialists may also recommend exercises to open the air passage for easier breathing and medications like antihistamines that relieve coughing or congestion. In severe cases where surgery is necessary, Pediatric ENTs can perform surgery to remove growths, reduce swelling, or repair damage to vocal cords.
Children suffering from voice disorders should always see a medical professional for advice and treatment options. Your child might suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. They could have acid reflux disease, making speaking difficult during an episode. Pediatric ENTs will work with patients and their caregivers to find what works best for each individual. Treatment options depend on the type and severity of the condition.