When evaluating your children, rest assured we always take a conservative but proactive approach.  When surgery is necessary, your child is in experienced hands.  We are proud of the extensive network of pediatricians and parents who choose us to treat their patients and children.   

Some of the most common childhood illnesses we treat include:

Ear Infections (Otitis media)

Almost every parent has been up at night with a child suffering from ear pain.  Ear infections are usually successfully treated by pediatricians.  Often times, when infections are recurrent or require additional treatment, we are here to help.  Although we take a conservative approach to treating ear infections, in many cases surgery is necessary. Our doctors have a great deal of surgical experience inserting ear myringotomy tubes. 

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss in children can be temporary or permanent.  Approximately one-to-two of every 500 children in the United States are born deaf or hard-of-hearing, making hearing loss the most common birth disorder.  It is important to have hearing loss evaluated by a physician who can rule out medical problems that may be causing the hearing loss, such as ear infections, excessive earwax, malformations or a genetic hearing loss. Our doctors work closely with our team of audiologists who perform hearing tests and offer assistive hearing devices.

Tonsils and Adenoids

As with ear infections, recurrent tonsillitis and sore throats are common childhood illnesses.  Tonsils and adenoids often harbor infections and at times block the upper air passages. Bacterial infections of the tonsils, especially those caused by streptococcus, are first treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, removal of the tonsils and adenoids may be recommended. Our group of surgeons has performed thousands of tonsillectomies and utilizes state of the art surgical techniques.  Our goal is to restore your child to health as quickly as possible with as little discomfort and risk as possible. 

Pediatric Sleep Apnea

Approximately one percent of children suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its related health consequences.  OSA is a condition where an airway becomes obstructed leading to pauses in breathing accompanied by snoring.  Obstructive sleep apnea usually occurs in children with enlarged adenoids and tonsils. The obstruction wakes the sleeper, interrupting the sleep cycle and resulting in poor sleep quality.  

If your child snores, appears restless at night, wakens frequently, having behavioral issues or demonstrating a lack of concentration, an ENT evaluation is needed.  Sleep apnea can usually be diagnosed based on a medical examination and history and in some cases sleep studies may be indicated.  Fortunately, in kids with no major health risks, the solution is removing the tonsils and adenoids. Most of the time, surgery corrects the problem and can be done as an out-patient procedure.  For more information on sleep apnea, click on the following link to read an interview with one of our doctors by St. Louis Kids’ Magazine.  http://www.stlouiskidsmagazine.com/sleepapnea.html

Pediatric Sinusitis and Allergies

Pediatric sinusitis is a condition in which a child suffers from inflammation or infection of one or more of the sinuses.  Sinusitis has symptoms of runny nose, stuffy nose, fever, headache, cough, post nasal drip, bad breath, facial swelling and changes in behavior. Many times it is difficult to tell the difference between a cold and a sinus infection.   That’s when seeking the advice of an ENT physician is necessary.  

Pediatric sinusitis is one of our greatest areas of expertise.  Our specialists have the capability of evaluating the most difficult of pediatric sinusitis conditions.  Our evaluation involves a thorough history and physical, sometimes including the use of a nasal endoscope and  x-rays or CT scans.   When necessary we do extensive workups on a patient’s immune system.   As a very last resort and in rare instances, after much parental discussion, we may consider functional endoscopic sinus surgery. 

How to prepare the very young child for a visit to our office

We provide an atmosphere to make your child or teen comfortable...

We will examine every child seen in our office. Other Pediatric hearing and speech professionals will assist us if indicated. Patients are thoroughly informed of all examination results. When treatment plans are required, they are carefully reviewed.  We encourage questions from parents at any time. If you have further questions after the office visit, please do not hesitate to call us.

Our office serves as a referral source to your child's physician who will continue to see your child for routine visits and emergencies. 

Some children may be scared about coming to the doctor's office. Children usually do better if they know what to expect. When you speak with your child, tell then that there are no needles or shots involved with the visit. The exam will have several parts. The younger child should be told that their doctor will use cool machines that are used to see neat things in ears, noses and throats.