Ear, nose and throat concerns are among the top reasons children are brought to the doctors. This is because children are especially sensitive to issues like ear infections and food allergies, and because certain birth defects such as cleft palates must be treated at a young age to prevent complications later on. The best way to treat ENT disorders in children is to bring them to an ENT clinic, where multiple specialists work in close collaboration to care for your child’s well-being.

Common ear, nose and throat issues that affect children are tonsil infections, sinus infections, hearing loss, snoring, sleep apnea, stridor (noisy breathing), infections of the lymph nodes, epistaxis (nose bleeding), chronic cough and voice disorders. Young children and babies are especially at risk for living with these untreated disorders, so it is vital that they are evaluated when certain problems arise. Early intervention ensures children can develop on schedule and lead more comfortable, happy lives.

David & Eldredge ENT Specialists offers the same services for children as we do for adults including allergy testing, allergy shots, allergy drops, hearing testing, hearing aids, rehab therapies and more. What sets our pediatric services apart is our ability to incorporate gentle and stimulating techniques, which help to engage and comfort children while evaluating and treating them. We understand that children require a special kind of care, which is why we strive to minimize pain, discomfort and anxiety in our child patients.

If you suspect your child is suffering from an ENT-related problem, please contact us at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Allergies are very common—as many as 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children suffer from some type of allergy. This number has been steadily increasing.

In order to treat your allergy symptoms, we first need to know what is causing them. At David & Eldredge ENT Specialists, we can test for all types of allergies through a series of exams. Once the exact cause of your symptoms has been determined we will create an individualized treatment plan that works with your type of allergy and lifestyle.

Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

A proper night’s sleep is important, but issues like snoring and sleep apnea can prevent you or your partner from getting a full eight hours. Waking up throughout the night can lead to daytime sleepiness, fatigue and anxiety. Fortunately, David & Eldredge ENT Specialists offers a number of options to treat these conditions.

Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule a consultation.

While most individuals will experience a change in their voice at some point in their lifetime it is important to monitor the situation instead of dismissing it as nothing. Many throat and neck disorders have similar symptoms. This is why at the first sign of trouble you should schedule an appointment with an experienced physician at David & Eldredge.

Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Reflux

Reflux occurs when acid from your stomach moves up into your esophagus. This occurs when the muscle at the entrance to your stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), does not close all the way. Smoking, being overweight, eating spicy or fatty foods and drinking alcohol or carbonated beverages can all contribute to the development of this condition. The most common symptoms of reflux are heartburn, a burning pain in your abdomen or throat, and regurgitation, which results in a bitter tasting acid in your mouth. Bloating, burping, hiccups and nausea are also common symptoms. Those whose symptoms do not respond well to medication or who experience symptoms more than two times a week should seek medical attention.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is the inflammation of your larynx, or voice box, commonly caused by overuse, irritation or infection. Within the larynx are your two vocal cords. If they become irritated the swelling will cause your voice to become distorted. Besides hoarseness and a weak voice, some experience a sore throat and dry cough. While many can see improvements through resting their voice and drinking plenty of fluids you should consult a doctor if your symptoms last more than two weeks.

Aphasia

Aphasia is a condition that occurs after a stroke or head injury that prevents you from communicating, often affecting your ability to speak, write and understand both verbal and written language. Speech and language therapy is used to help those with this condition recover their language skills. While this is a slow process, most make significant process with this treatment. Clinical studies are currently being conducted to look at the benefits drugs can have to improve blood flow to the brain, helping patients’ brains recover abilities that may have been lost.

The nose provides our sense of smell. It serves as a major part of the respiratory system that helps the body breathe as well as filter dust, germs and irritants from the air. It also warms and moistens the air to keep the lungs and tubes in the respiratory system from drying out.

The most common condition related to the nose is nasal congestion, which can be caused by colds, flu, allergies or environmental factors. The nose can also be affected by a deviated septum, nasal polyps, nosebleeds, rhinitis, sinus infections and nasal fractures. Treatment for conditions of the nose will depend on the cause.

To determine the appropriate treatment plan for your nasal condition, your otolaryngologist will need to evaluate and diagnose your symptoms. Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Ears

Your ear is a complicated organ that enables you to interact with your surroundings. If an issue arises with any part of the ear you can easily become disconnected. The staff at David & Eldredge is experienced at diagnosing and treating a wide variety of ear disorders and conditions.

If you are experiencing any ear pain or discomfort, contact us at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the ear. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but can also sound like hissing, roaring, whooshing, clicking, chirping, whistling or buzzing. It varies in pitch and volume, may occur in one or both ears and can be an occasional nuisance or a constant irritation. Tinnitus can be caused by a number of conditions including hearing loss caused by noise exposure. In order to treat tinnitus, the underlying condition responsible for your symptoms should be identified. When the condition causing your tinnitus is unknown or untreatable, noise suppression techniques are often recommended.

Earwax Removal

Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a naturally occurring substance produced by the ear. Earwax works to protect the ear by trapping dust and debris and preventing it from entering the canal. Earwax typically dries up and falls out of the ear without you even noticing. Using a cotton swab to clean the ear can cause the earwax to become blocked or impacted. Impacted earwax can lead to a decrease in hearing, ear pain and itching. To remove the earwax blockage, your doctor may use a small plastic spoon, called a curette, or irrigate the ear with warm water. Once the earwax is removed your doctor may recommend the use of over-the-counter wax softening drops to prevent a buildup in the future.

Swimmer’s Ear

Swimmer’s ear is an infection in the outer ear canal. This infection is caused by bacteria, which is often left in the ear after spending time in water. Itching, redness and discomfort are all signs of swimmer’s ear. If left untreated, this infection can cause hearing loss or deep tissue infection, which can affect the bone and cartilage. Eardrops containing an acidic solution, steroids, antibiotics or antifungal medication will typically be prescribed by your doctor to treat the infection. In addition, the ear canal will be thoroughly cleaned to ensure the eardrops are able to reach the infected area.

Ear Tubes

Ear tubes are used as a treatment for children who are prone to middle ear infections or fluid buildup. Many children suffer from occasional ear infections, but those who do not find standard treatments beneficial may require this procedure, as chronic infections can lead to hearing loss, which can then lead to poor school performance or behavior and speech problems. The simple procedure involves making a small hole in the eardrum; tiny cylinders are then inserted through the hole. This allows air to flow into the middle ear. Ear tubes come in two styles; short-term tubes, which fall out of the ear on their own after a few months, and long-term tubes, which have to be removed by a doctor.

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and a sensation of fullness within the ear. While the cause of this disease is unknown, many researchers believe an abnormal amount of fluid within the inner ear is to blame. Your doctor will perform a hearing and balance assessment to confirm the diagnosis. There is no cure for this condition but there are treatments available to control the symptoms. Medications may be prescribed for the vertigo and the tinnitus. Lifestyle changes such as reducing salt intake and managing stress may also decrease symptom severity. Occassionaly surgery may be employed to relieve symptoms and wearing hearing aids may be recommended to help with the hearing loss and control the tinnitus.

Otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is the abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear, which causes hearing loss. The middle ear contains a chain of three bones, which work together to pass sound wave vibrations from the outer ear to the inner ear. A growth on any bone in this chain can impede the hearing process. Otosclerosis is a hereditary disorder, typically passed from parent to child. In addition to hearing loss, many with this disorder also experience dizziness and a ringing in the ears. The most common treatments for this condition are the use of a hearing aid or a stapedotomy, an operation that implants a device to help sound waves bypass the damaged bone.

Bone-Anchored Hearing Devices

A bone-anchored hearing device is a type of hearing device used for those with conductive or unilateral hearing loss. The device consists of three parts: a titanium implant, an external fitting and a sound processor. A short surgical procedure inserts the implant into the skull bone. The sound processor picks up sound vibrations from the environment. The vibrations are then passed through the external fitting to the implant. Since the implant sits in the bone it allows the vibrations to easily travel through the bone to the inner ear. This process allows sounds to bypass the damaged outer or middle ear.