Pediatric ENT Care in Austin, TX
Common Pediatric ENT Conditions
Our staff love to see kids! Their smiles, laughter, silliness, and sweet things they say make our day. The most common health issues in the pediatric age group are ear, nose, and throat issues. Dr. Slaughter and Dr. Salvador are Board Certified in pediatric ear, nose, and throat care by the American Board of Otolaryngology and offer years of experience in treating these common conditions.
Parents want to know they are giving the best for their kids, and the kids just want to be happy and comfortable. We work as a team to make the experience something we would want for our own kids and offer enhanced pediatric care and safety.
If your child is suffering from one of these common conditions, call to make an appointment with Dr. Slaughter or Dr. Salvador today!
Recurring ear infections
Recurring ear infections (otitis media) and persistent ear fluid are common problems. We offer the best in medical therapy to treat this condition, and when necessary, PET (pressure equalization tubes) can be placed to resolve this issue. This simple outpatient procedure, performed painlessly with inhalation anesthesia, is safe and takes just minutes to perform. Your child’s hearing is restored immediately with the removal of the fluid.
Pediatric ENT Care Patient Testimonial
“Great with our kids and gave us hope that we can get their allergies under control and correct their mouth breathing. Didn’t jump to suggest extra or expensive procedures.”
– Alyssa C
Chronic allergies
Many children struggle with chronic allergies. At our Allergy Testing and Treatment Center, we provide a thorough evaluation that includes both allergy and ENT assessments. We use needle-free allergy skin testing to identify triggers, then create custom allergy drops tailored to each child’s results and history. These drops are taken under the tongue at home each night, offering safe, convenient relief by training the immune system to reduce—and often stop—allergy symptoms,
Chronic Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)
Children are especially prone to recurring sinus infections because of their immature immune system, frequent exposure in school and daycare, and the small sinus anatomy. We offer the most advanced medical therapy for this condition and can visualize using painless video endoscopy and office miniCT scan. Antibiotic therapy, both topically and orally, can be given to successfully resolve the infection.
When medical therapy fails to break the cycle of recurring sinusitis, pediatric balloon sinuplasty can be used to gently open the sinus outflow tracts without surgery. This allows for the removal of the infection and allows the sinuses to drain more naturally. Our office was intimately involved in the creation of the original prototype we use for balloon sinuplasty and participated in the study that helped it obtain FDA clearance. The balloon sinuplasty can be performed under IV sedation with rapid recovery and minimal to no downtime. Kids are usually back in school the next day and don’t require any pain medication. There is no packing or nasal splinting. The procedure takes about 15 minutes, and most kids are on their way home within 20 minutes of having the procedure.
Nasal congestion
Many conditions can cause this, and we evaluate your child for each factor that could be causing the nasal congestion. Some possible treatments could include the following:
- Needle-free allergy evaluation and treatment from our Allergy Center, and treatment with allergy drops.
- Surgical correction. We offer MiniCT Imaging in our office to evaluate for chronic sinusitis, structural issues, and enlargement of the adenoid. Our MiniCT offers extremely low X-ray exposure.
If medical and allergy therapy does not resolve their chronic congestion, simple office or outpatient procedures such as balloon sinuplasty, turbinate reduction, tonsillectomy, and adenoidectomy may be very helpful.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
Children may have many different problems with their tonsils and adenoids. Similar to lymph nodes, these structures are located in the back of the throat (tonsils) and back of the nose (adenoids).
Recurring Strep throat and tonsillitis are frequent problems in kids as well. When medical therapy fails to relieve this condition, outpatient tonsillectomy can be performed using the latest and most painless technique to reduce recovery time.
Chronic tonsillitis may also require a tonsillectomy. This is where the tonsils have chronic infection, tonsil stones, sore throat, and halitosis.
Snoring, UARS, and sleep apnea
Snoring in children is caused by resistance to airflow that produces sound but does not necessarily disrupt sleep.
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) is a more serious condition where airflow resistance not only causes snoring but also reduces sleep quality. Children with UARS often miss out on the deeper stages of sleep—slow-wave sleep and REM sleep—which are essential for memory, learning, daytime focus, physical restoration, and healthy growth.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is similar to UARS but more severe. In OSA, children experience pauses in breathing, drops in oxygen levels, and all the same problems seen with UARS, along with increased risks of heart issues, weight gain, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Dentists are often the first to notice signs of UARS or OSA because open-mouth posture in these children affects facial growth and dental development. Common findings include a high, narrow palate, overbite, smaller or recessed jaw, and increased risk of gum or tooth disease—often leading to orthodontic concerns if left untreated.
The good news is that treating UARS and OSA in children is usually straightforward. Depending on the cause, treatment may include:
- Outpatient removal of tonsils and adenoids
- Balloon sinuplasty or turbinate reduction (nonsurgical or minimally invasive)
- Needle-free allergy testing with custom allergy drops
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Modern endoscopic septoplasty to correct nasal obstruction
By addressing the specific areas of airway resistance, children can achieve better sleep, healthier growth, and improved overall well-being.
Tongue Tied
Ankyloglossia (tongue-tied) infants and children can have difficulty with the following:
- Breastfeeding
- Speech
- Swallowing
In most cases, a brief, simple office procedure can resolve this issue in minutes using topical anesthesia.
Hearing loss and speech delay
Hearing loss and speech delay are frequent concerns for patients. Our Ear and Hearing Center offers a comprehensive pediatric hearing evaluation for all ages for accurate results. Our physicians will also evaluate the tongue and oral cavity to ensure there are no limitations to movement. They also work closely with your speech pathologist to improve intelligibility.
Eardrum hole (perforated eardrum)
Kids may develop a hole in the eardrum after recurring ear infections. Tympanoplasty (repair of the eardrum) is a simple outpatient procedure that we can perform to repair the eardrum and restore your child’s hearing.
Neck Masses
Head and neck masses are a frequent problem in children and of great concern for the parents. The following head and neck masses are evaluated by Dr. Slaughter or Dr. Salvador in office:
- Lymph node enlargement
- Salivary gland swelling
- Congenital cysts such as branchial cleft cysts
If necessary, Dr. Slaughter and Dr. Salvador have the expertise and experience to remove these masses with a simple outpatient procedure.
Schedule a Consultation
If you suspect your child may suffer any of these conditions, contact our office today at 512.601.0303 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Slaughter or Dr. Salvador.
