Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat

Our pediatric ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, also known as otolaryngologists, help newborns, children, and teens breathe more easily, hear the world more clearly, and get better sleep.

We may be part of your child’s care team at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital for ear infections, hearing loss, sinusitis, nasal obstruction, breathing issues, swallowing issues, speech disorders, head and neck tumors, and many other disorders.

Advanced care

We offer a full range of treatments for ear, nose, and throat conditions. We use the latest research and procedures, including minimally invasive techniques and advanced surgical care.

Child- and family-centered

Our doctors ensure treatments and procedures are tailored to growing bodies and delivered in a compassionate and child-friendly environment. We provide comfort, clear communication, and guidance for families. When overnight hospital stays are required, child life specialists, therapists, and social workers will also support your child.

Collaborative team

Our multidisciplinary team includes ENT doctors and nurses, surgeons, and audiologists. We also partner closely with pediatric speech-language pathologists for feeding and swallowing therapies, plastic surgeons for cleft lip and palate repairs, lung and digestive health doctors, and other specialists to provide complete care for your child.

We treat a range of complex pediatric ear, nose, and throat conditions including:

Airway disorders

Your child’s airways include all the passages that are involved in transporting air in and out of their lungs — including the nasal cavities, sinuses, throat, voice box, windpipe (trachea), the two main airways that directly supply each lung (bronchi), and the smaller airways within the lungs themselves (bronchioles).

When one or more airways become restricted or obstructed in some way, it can cause noticeable difficulties with swallowing, eating, or breathing, including noisy breathing (stridor), coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath. If left untreated, chronic airway disorders in children can also lead to other health complications for growing kids.

Our specialists treat a wide variety of disorders that affect any part of the airways, whether they are caused by allergies, infections, inherited conditions, injuries, physical obstructions, or other reasons.

Chronic ear infections

Ear infections are caused by a virus or bacteria that invades the middle part of the ear (behind the eardrum). This often causes swelling in the tube that drains fluid from the ear (Eustachian tube) and leads to a buildup of mucus in the inner ear.

Common symptoms include ear pain and pressure, difficulty hearing, loss of appetite, and fever. Since infants and small children cannot always communicate their symptoms to parents, look for signs like tugging on their ears, crying and fussiness, refusing feedings, and snoring.

While ear infections are fairly common in young children, ear infections that last a long time or return frequently can cause lasting damage, including permanent hearing loss in some cases.

Congenital conditions

These issues are present at birth and affect the shape, structure, or function of an organ or body part. Congenital anomalies of the ear, nose, or throat may require treatment if they interfere with hearing, speaking, breathing, or healthy development. Treatment may also be desired to restore a more normal appearance to aesthetic defects, such as an outer ear deformity.

Hearing loss

There are many possible causes of hearing loss in children. Some are temporary, while others might be permanent. An audiologist performs comprehensive evaluations to determine the level of severity.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves can’t reach the inner ear. Common causes include physical blockages (such as fluid, earwax, or excess bone growth) in the middle or outer ear, a ruptured eardrum, or chronic ear infections.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when problems with the inner ear (such as congenital birth defects, infections, or injuries) prevent it from receiving sound waves or transmitting them to the brain.

Tonsil and adenoid problems

Tonsils and adenoids are small organs that assist the immune system by targeting germs that enter through the mouth or nose. Kids have one adenoid at the top of the throat and two tonsils at the back of the throat. These organs tend to reach their maximum size in early childhood, then shrink significantly in adolescence and adulthood.

If a child’s tonsils or adenoids become enlarged or infected, however, they can no longer help the immune system and may cause other issues such as pain, fever, and breathing difficulty during sleep (including sleep apnea). If infections do not respond to medications or keep returning, surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) or adenoid (adenoidectomy) may be recommended.