Common Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Conditions

 

At Phoenix Children’s, our pediatric fellowship-trained otolaryngologists are head and neck surgeons who diagnose and treat a wide range of ENT disorders. Our team treats many common and chronic conditions, such as:

  • Choanal atresia: A blockage in the back of the nose that makes it hard for babies to breathe
  • Chronic sinus infections (sinusitis): Ongoing inflammation that causes congestion, pain and breathing problems
  • Ear infections (otitis media): Fluid and infection behind the eardrum that may cause pain or hearing problems
  • Hearing loss: Partial or total loss of hearing that may affect speech and development
  • Nasal differences: Conditions that affect the shape or structure of the nose and may impact breathing
  • Neck masses: Lumps or growths in the neck that require evaluation
  • Noisy breathing (stridor): High-pitched or loud breathing caused by airway narrowing or obstruction
  • Obstructive sleep apnea and sleep disordered breathing: Interrupted breathing during sleep that may cause poor rest or health problems
  • Pyriform aperture stenosis: Narrowing at the front of the nose due to bone growth in the upper jaw
  • Swallowing disorders: Trouble moving food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach
  • Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia): A short or tight band of tissue under the tongue that limits movement
  • Tonsils and adenoid disease: Swelling and infection that may cause sore throats and sleep issues
  • Upper airway obstruction: Blockages that make it difficult for a child to breathe
  • Voice disorders: Conditions that cause hoarseness, loss of voice or other vocal changes

Complex ENT, Head and Neck Conditions

Some children need care for more specialized or rare conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat, head or neck. At Phoenix Children’s, our ENT specialists have the expertise to diagnose and treat even the most complex cases. These include:

  • Aural atresia: Occurs when a child is born without an ear canal, which may affect hearing
  • Branchial cleft anomalies: Abnormal openings, cysts or tracts that form in the neck
  • Cholesteatoma: An abnormal growth in the middle ear, behind the eardrum
  • Head and neck tumors: Growths that may be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous
  • Vascular malformations and hemangiomas: Abnormal blood vessel growths that may appear on the head or neck
  • Laryngeal cleft: An opening between the voice box and the esophagus
  • Laryngeal stenosis: The narrowing of the airway in the voice box or trachea (windpipe)
  • Laryngomalacia: Occurs when the tissues of the airway are soft, which can cause difficult or noisy breathing
  • Micrognathia and Pierre Robin sequence: A smaller or underdeveloped jaw
  • Microtia: A small or not fully developed outer ear
  • Sialorrhea (excessive drooling): When saliva production is too high or there are salivary gland conditions
  • Thyroglossal duct cysts: Fluid-filled sacs that form in the front of the neck
  • Thyroid and parathyroid tumors: Abnormal growths that affect the thyroid or parathyroid glands
  • Tracheal stenosis or complete tracheal rings: Causes the windpipe (trachea) to narrow due to structural issues
  • Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM): Where the windpipe is weak and may collapse during breathing
  • Tracheoesophageal fistula: An abnormal connection between the windpipe and the esophagus
  • Velopharyngeal insufficiency: Occurs when the soft palate does not close properly during speech, leading to a nasal-sounding voice
  • Vertigo: Frequent dizziness or balance problems
  • Vocal cord paralysis: When one or both vocal cords are weak or unable to move