pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT)

Dayton Children’s provides comprehensive diagnostic testing for complex conditions of the ear, nose and throat. Tests can include:

• Hearing testing
• Nasopharyngoscopy, used to examine the airway and vocal cord function. These tests can sometimes be performed in the clinic without any sedation.
• Functional evaluation of swallowing
• Velopharyngeal insufficiency testing
• Fine-needle aspiration, used to help diagnose and evaluate growths in the head and neck.
• Bronchoscopy and microlaryngoscopy are almost always performed in the hospital with the patient under general anesthesia. These procedures allow the physician to obtain highly detailed pictures of the airway.
• Video fluoroscopy to evaluate swallowing disorders.
• Imaging tests such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Cine MRI, a special magnetic resonance imaging test that is used to observe the flow of cerebrospinal fluid

If your child needs any of these testing procedures, the doctor will explain what is involved and how to prepare. Our advanced ENT team will help make the experience as relaxed and kid-friendly as possible!

Our pediatric otolaryngologists provide comprehensive surgical care. This includes everything from common surgeries, such as ear tubes surgery and tonsillectomies, to complex procedures for conditions such as cleft palate and tumors of the head and neck. 

Whenever possible, our physicians pursue non-surgical therapies, which can include medication, steroid therapy and minor office procedures. Sometimes, however, surgery is the best option. Surgical suites at Dayton Children’s are designed specifically with equipment and surgical tools that are sized just right for kids.

Our providers have extensive experience in performing minimally invasive techniques, which can reduce post-operative pain, promote faster healing, reduce the risk of infection and minimize damage to surrounding tissue. These surgeries can involve removing foreign bodies and tumors from the airway, reducing scar tissue, treating small defects and treating vascular anomalies, like birthmarks.

The most complex surgeries our specialists perform involve reconstructing the airway. Airway reconstruction is performed to either rebuild or expand segments of the airway, depending on the child’s needs. Doctors may perform an airway reconstruction for conditions including:

• Stenosis (narrowing) of the larynx (“voice box”) and trachea (“windpipe”)
• Laryngomalacia, a birth defect in which floppy tissue above the vocal cords falls into the airway as an infant sleeps.
• Cleft palate, a birth defect in which the roof of the mouth does not fuse properly during fetal development.
• Choanal atresia, a birth defect in which abnormal bony or soft tissue blocks the nasal passage.
• Complications of tracheotomies. Doctors perform a tracheostomy to relieve an obstruction to breathing. Complications can occur during or after the procedure that need immediate attention.

Our providers also perform complex surgeries on the ears, including surgeries to reconstruct damaged eardrums and place cochlear implants.

Dayton Children’s ENT Fast Track program for ear tubes surgery is ideally suited for children who meet the clinical criteria for ear tube placement and for whom any delay in care would add to their suffering.

Utilizing the ENT Fast Track program allows families to eliminate their preoperative visit to the pediatric ENT clinic, without sacrificing communication, education and evidence-based management protocols. This allows for a more convenient process for families while our clinical team delivers high-quality care. Ask your pediatrician if your child might be a good candidate for Fast Track.

Dayton Children’s provides comprehensive care for children who need to be admitted to the hospital for surgery and/or testing. Depending on the severity of the illness, the child may be admitted to a general pediatric floor or one of the hospital’s critical care units.

The aerodigestive clinic at Dayton Children’s is designed for chronically ill children with disorders of the upper airway, lungs and upper digestive tract, including sleep and feeding problems. 

Patients come to our clinic to meet with multiple pediatric specialists, including a pulmonologist, ENT specialist and a gastroenterologist. By evaluating your child’s condition together, the physicians can develop an understanding of their overall health and what kind of therapy is needed. This coordination of care is essential to your child’s wellbeing, since children who come to the center often have complex needs.

Dayton Children’s offers a comprehensive cleft lip and cleft palate program, with a team that includes developmental pediatricians, plastic surgeons, an oral surgeon, an orthodontist, a speech-language pathologist and others. Together, they provide a detailed diagnosis, a comprehensive treatment plan and extensive support every step of the way.

Our pediatric ENT specialists evaluate children who require surgery for cleft lip and cleft palate, perform surgical repairs and provide follow-up care. Other surgeons may be involved in a child’s care, depending on the nature of the repair. 

cleft lip and cleft palate program

Dayton Children’s offers comprehensive specialty care for children with permanent hearing loss. This clinic offers patients a comprehensive approach to hearing loss through a team of specialists, including pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, pediatric audiologists, developmental pediatrics specialists and speech-language pathologists. Together, they offer:

• Complete evaluation and care for hearing loss
• Referrals to other pediatric specialists who can offer additional care, including neurologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and others
• Referrals for comprehensive testing, including imaging tests, auditory brainstem response testing and speech-language evaluations
• Cochlear implants
• Bone-anchored hearing aids
• Support to help parents decide how they want to communicate with their child, whether using American Sign Language, cued speech, etc.
• Supportive resources for families and children
• Consultations with the child’s classroom teachers to help address the child’s academic needs
• Genetic testing for families whose child has sensorineural hearing loss, if appropriate. This can help determine whether the child’s hearing loss is associated with inherited genetic factors—factors that may be present in siblings or other family members.

The vascular anomalies clinic at Dayton Children’s Hospital is composed of specialists from hematology/oncology, ENT, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery and interventional radiology.

Our comprehensive team has expertise in the diagnosis, management and treatment of vascular anomalies, including hemangiomas and vascular tumors.

learn about vascular anomalies

Voice and swallowing disorders can occur at any age and involve a wide variety of symptoms. Our multidisciplinary voice and swallowing clinic provides a team approach to care, bringing together an ear, nose and throat specialist and speech-language pathologist to evaluate and treat these patients in a shared clinic.

The initial evaluation may include:

• A thorough physical exam
• Endoscopic testing, which involves using a thin, flexible tube to view the esophagus (sometimes called the “food pipe”)
• Computerized voice analysis instrumentation (for children who are experiencing voice problems)

The doctor and speech/language pathologist will put together a personalized treatment plan based on their findings. The treatment plan may involve care from the physician and our speech/language pathology colleagues.

Voice clinic is for any child experiencing dysphonia (difficulty voicing) and is a candidate for a referral to the voice clinic.  Children can be referred to the voice clinic with a diagnosis of “dysphonia” or “hoarseness.”  A thorough assessment is completed in the voice clinic and can help to determine the reason for the dysphonia. 

Diagnoses include:

• Vocal cord paralysis or paresis (unilateral or bilateral)
• Vocal cord nodules
• Vocal cord edema
• Vocal cord granulomas
• Vocal cord polyps
• Laryngeal edema or laryngitis

Some children with breathing difficulty can also be referred to the voice clinic if there is concern for “paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction” (PVFD), sometimes also referred to as “vocal cord dysfunction” (VCD).  It is important for children to be evaluated by a pulmonologist prior to voice clinic referral if there is concern for PVFD. 

Children with PVFD may experience:

• Difficulty getting air in or throat tightness during:
  • Exercise/exertion
  • Chemical exposure (chlorine, perfume, bleach, etc.)
  • Weather changes
  • Anxiety-invoking situations
• Tightness in the throat with sensation that the airway is being “cut off”
• Inspiratory stridor, especially during exercise
• Difficulty breathing that does not improve with inhaler use
• Voice changes or difficulty during an “attack”
• GERD
• Asthma

The ears, nose and throat are linked through a system of passages and tubes, including the Eustachian tubes and sinuses. That is why infections or inflammation in one area often affect the others.

Some insurance plans require a referral to see a pediatric ENT specialist. It is best to check with your child’s primary care provider or your insurance company before scheduling.

Yes. Chronic ear infections, hearing loss or nasal obstruction can interfere with speech, learning and behavior. Early diagnosis and treatment can help support development.

Most visits take 30–60 minutes, depending on your child’s needs and whether any testing is done during the appointment.

Bring your child’s medical history, a list of symptoms or concerns and any relevant records. You’ll receive clear next steps after your visit.

The ears, nose and throat are linked through a system of passages and tubes, including the Eustachian tubes and sinuses. That is why infections or inflammation in one area often affect the others.

Some insurance plans require a referral to see a pediatric ENT specialist. It is best to check with your child’s primary care provider or your insurance company before scheduling.

Yes. Chronic ear infections, hearing loss or nasal obstruction can interfere with speech, learning and behavior. Early diagnosis and treatment can help support development.

Most visits take 30–60 minutes, depending on your child’s needs and whether any testing is done during the appointment.

Bring your child’s medical history, a list of symptoms or concerns and any relevant records. You’ll receive clear next steps after your visit.