Sydney Childrens ENT, Paediatric Conditions & Treatments

If your child snores regularly or seems to struggle with breathing during sleep, they may have a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea. This happens when the airway becomes partly or fully blocked during sleep, often due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids. You might notice loud snoring, restless sleep, pauses in breathing, or tiredness and irritability during the day.

The specialists at Sydney Adult and Children’s ENT Centre can assess your child, and in many cases, treatment such as removing the tonsils and adenoids or managing nasal allergies can make a big difference. With the right care, most children sleep better, perform better, and feel healthier overall.

While many children snore, some stop breathing while asleep. Unrecognised and untreated OSA can have short and long term consequences.In close collaboration with paediatric sleep physicians we provide assessment of snoring and and facilitate the diagnosis or exclusion of sleep apnoea. Only with careful diagnosis, will appropriate surgery be offered to treat OSA in children.

A chronic blocked nose in children is a common problem that can make breathing difficult, disturb sleep, and affect daily activities. It may be caused by allergies, enlarged adenoids, sinus infections, or structural issues in the nose. Symptoms often include persistent congestion, mouth breathing, snoring, and sometimes repeated ear infections.

At Sydney Adult & Children’s ENT Centre, our specialists carefully assess the cause and provide personalised treatment, which may include allergy management, nasal sprays, or, in some cases, minor surgery such as adenoid removal to improve airflow. With appropriate care, most children experience clearer breathing, better sleep, and improved overall wellbeing.

An adenoidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the adenoids, at the back of the nose that can become enlarged or repeatedly infected in children. When this happens, it can cause blocked noses, snoring, mouth breathing, or ear infections. If medicines don’t help, your child’s doctor may recommend surgery.

The procedure is done under general anaesthetic and usually takes less than 20 minutes. Most children go home the same day and recover within about a week. After surgery, your child may have a sore throat or stuffy nose for a few days. The operation is very safe and often helps children breathe, sleep better.

Children’s ear infections and glue ear are common conditions that can affect hearing, speech, and learning. Our ENT specialists provide thorough assessment and management for children experiencing frequent ear infections or persistent fluid behind the eardrum (glue ear).

At Sydney Adult & Children’s ENT Centre we offer onsite hearing tests, examination of the ears using specialist equipment, and tailored treatment plans which may include medication, monitoring, or minor surgical procedures such as grommet insertion. The aim is to relieve discomfort, prevent recurrent infections, and support your child’s hearing and development. Our specialists works closely with parents to ensure clear communication and a comfortable, child-friendly experience throughout care.

Grommet surgery is a common and effective treatment for children who experience frequent ear infections or persistent fluid buildup behind the eardrum, known as glue ear. These issues can cause hearing loss, speech delays, and discomfort. During the procedure, tiny ventilation tubes (grommets) are inserted into the eardrum to allow air to enter the middle ear and fluid to drain away.

The surgery is usually performed under a short general anaesthetic and takes approximately 15 minutes. Most children recover quickly and can return to normal activities within a day. Grommets typically fall out on their own after six to twelve months as the eardrum heals naturally, often leading to improved hearing and fewer ear infections.

This surgery is offered only when indicated and in accordance with well established international guidelines.

Sydney Adult & Children’s ENT Centre, we provide comprehensive care for children with hearing loss, recognising how important early detection and treatment are for speech, learning, and social development. Our specialists assess all types of paediatric hearing loss, including temporary hearing problems from ear infections or glue ear, as well as permanent hearing loss due to genetic, structural, or nerve-related causes. Services include detailed hearing assessments, ear examinations, and management plans tailored to each child’s needs.

Treatment options may involve medical therapy, minor surgery such as grommet insertion, or fitting of hearing aids and other assistive hearing devices. Our team works closely with families, our onsite audiologist, and speech therapists to support each child’s communication and overall development in a caring, family-focused environment.

At Sydney Adult & Children’s ENT Centre, we assess and manage paediatric dentofacial development concerns, which involve how a child’s jaws, facial bones, and airways grow and develop. Issues such as mouth breathing, chronic nasal obstruction, enlarged adenoids or tonsils, and sleep-disordered breathing can affect jaw growth and dental alignment over time. Our specialists work to identify and treat the underlying paediatric ENT causes that may impact normal facial development.

Treatment may include medical management for nasal obstruction, surgical procedures such as adenoidectomy or turbinate reduction surgery when indicated, and collaboration with orthodontists or dentists to guide proper facial growth. By addressing airway and nasal function early, we aim to support healthy breathing patterns, facial symmetry, and optimal long-term development for each child.

Cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear that can damage hearing if left untreated. At Sydney Adult & Children’s ENT Centre, we provide expert assessment and management for this condition in children. Our specialists use detailed ear examinations and imaging such as CT scan and hearing tests to determine the extent of the growth and its effect on the ear structures.

Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the cholesteatoma to prevent further damage and preserve hearing, using advanced microsurgical techniques. Ongoing follow-up is important to monitor healing and reduce the risk of recurrence, helping to protect your child’s ear health and hearing long term.

Paediatric cochlear implants are a specialised treatment option for children with severe to profound hearing loss who gain limited benefit from conventional hearing aids. The implant works by directly stimulating the hearing nerve, allowing sound signals to bypass the damaged parts of the inner ear. Assessment for a cochlear implant involves hearing tests, imaging, and consultation with our ENT specialist and audiology team.

Surgical treatment involves placing a small electronic device under the skin behind the ear, with an internal electrode inserted into the cochlea. After surgery, the device is activated and fine-tuned over several sessions, followed by ongoing auditory and speech therapy. Cochlear implants can significantly improve a child’s ability to hear sounds and develop speech.

Thyroglossal duct cyst in children is a congenital neck condition that appears as a small, painless lump in the midline of a child’s neck, often moving when swallowing or sticking out the tongue. It forms when remnants of the thyroglossal duct, an embryological structure, fail to disappear completely. While usually harmless, the cyst can sometimes become infected, causing redness, tenderness, or discharge.

Treatment typically involves surgical removal, which removes the cyst along with part of the central portion of the hyoid bone to reduce the risk of recurrence. With surgery, most children recover quickly and experience excellent outcomes.

Branchial cleft abnormalities are lumps or small openings that can appear on the side of a child’s neck from birth. They form when the neck structures don’t fully close during early development. These cysts or tracts can become swollen or infected over time.

Treatment usually involves minor surgery to remove the cyst and prevent future problems. The procedure is safe and effective, and most children recover quickly with excellent results.