Paediatric ENT Assessment & Surgery
Ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems are extremely common in children. While many conditions are mild and temporary, some can significantly affect hearing, breathing, sleep, speech development and overall wellbeing. Early specialist assessment can help identify problems promptly, provide reassurance for families and ensure appropriate treatment where needed.
At Hampshire ENT Clinics, children and young people can be assessed by experienced Consultant ENT Surgeons for a wide range of common and complex ear, nose and throat conditions.
Our approach is centred around careful assessment, clear communication with parents and carers, and treatment tailored to the individual needs of each child.
Paediatric ENT consultations focus on understanding the child’s symptoms, development and overall health, alongside appropriate examination and investigation where required.
Specialist Paediatric ENT Care
Our consultants assess and manage a wide range of paediatric ENT conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat and airway.
Common conditions include:
Recurrent ear infections and glue ear (otitis media with effusion)
Hearing loss associated with middle ear disease
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
Snoring and sleep-disordered breathing
Recurrent tonsillitis and throat infections
Persistent nasal obstruction
Chronic or recurrent nasal and sinus symptoms
Voice and airway problems
Neck lumps and congenital ENT conditions
Careful assessment helps determine the most appropriate management plan, which may involve reassurance and observation, medical treatment, further investigation or surgical intervention.
Comprehensive ENT Assessment for Children
Children can present with ENT problems in many different ways. Symptoms may affect hearing, speech and language development, breathing, sleep, concentration or general wellbeing.
A paediatric ENT consultation may include:
Detailed discussion of symptoms with parents or carers
Review of relevant medical and developmental history
Examination of the ears, nose and throat
Hearing assessment where appropriate
Assessment of nasal breathing and obstruction
Review of snoring, sleep or breathing symptoms
Discussion of speech, development and general health
This comprehensive approach helps establish the likely cause of symptoms and allows treatment to be tailored to each child.
Paediatric ENT Surgery
Some childhood ENT conditions improve naturally or respond to medical treatment. However, surgery may occasionally be recommended when symptoms are persistent, recurrent or significantly affecting a child's health or development.
Common paediatric ENT procedures include:
Grommet insertion for glue ear and associated hearing problems
Adenoidectomy for nasal obstruction or selected recurrent ear problems
Tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis or sleep-disordered breathing
Combined tonsil and adenoid surgery where appropriate
Selected procedures for nasal obstruction and other ENT conditions
Where surgery is recommended, the consultant will discuss the reasons for treatment, potential benefits and risks, alternatives and expected recovery in detail with the family.
Child-Focused ENT Care
Children require a different approach from adults when undergoing medical assessment or treatment.
Our aim is to provide care that is:
Calm and reassuring
Appropriate for the child's age
Focused on minimising discomfort and anxiety
Clearly explained to both children and parents
Based on careful assessment rather than unnecessary intervention
Parents and carers are encouraged to ask questions and be actively involved in decisions about their child's treatment.
Multidisciplinary Paediatric Care
Some paediatric ENT problems benefit from input from other healthcare professionals.
Depending on the condition, ENT consultants may work alongside:
Audiologists
Speech and language therapists
Paediatricians
Respiratory specialists
Sleep specialists
Other specialist surgical or medical teams
This multidisciplinary approach can be particularly valuable for children with hearing difficulties, speech and language concerns, complex airway problems or sleep-disordered breathing.
Personalised Advice for Families
Not every child with ENT symptoms requires surgery.
Conditions such as glue ear, mild tonsillar enlargement and some nasal symptoms may improve naturally with time. An important part of specialist ENT assessment is therefore determining when observation or medical treatment is more appropriate than an operation.
During consultation, families are given clear information about:
The likely cause of the child's symptoms
Whether further investigation is required
Whether monitoring or treatment is recommended
Available medical and surgical options
Potential benefits and risks of treatment
Expected recovery and longer-term outlook
The aim is to support healthy hearing, comfortable breathing, good-quality sleep and normal development, while recommending intervention only when it is clinically appropriate.
Paediatric ENT Appointments with Hampshire ENT
Hampshire ENT provides specialist assessment for children and young people with ear, nose and throat problems.
The age ranges seen and availability of paediatric consultations or surgery vary between our consultants and hospital locations. Our team can advise on the most appropriate consultant and clinic for your child's age and symptoms when arranging an appointment.
If you are concerned about your child's hearing, recurrent infections, tonsils, snoring, nasal obstruction or another ENT problem, contact Hampshire ENT Clinics to arrange a specialist assessment.
-
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth – consultation and surgery for children aged 0–18 years
Medicana Winchester – private consultations for young people aged 12 and above
If consultation occurs at Medicana Winchester and surgery is required (age 12-18), this can be performed at the Queen Alexandra Hospital
Work is currently underway to see and operate on children (0-18 years) of all ages at Medicana Winchester. This is likely to occur in the Summer of 2026.
-
Parents often seek specialist advice if their child has:
Persistent or recurrent ear infections
Glue ear or hearing concerns
Snoring or disturbed sleep
Recurrent tonsillitis or sore throats
Mouth breathing or blocked nose
Speech delay associated with hearing problems
Neck lumps or unusual swelling in the neck
Drooling
A consultation helps determine whether symptoms are part of normal childhood development or require treatment. description
-
Glue ear occurs when fluid collects behind the eardrum, reducing hearing. Signs may include:
Asking for things to be repeated
Turning the television volume up
Speech or language delay
Poor attention in noisy environments
Recurrent ear infections
Hearing tests are often required to confirm the diagnosis.
-
For children seen through Queen Alexandra Hospital, hearing tests are usually carried out at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, which hosts the regional paediatric audiology service.
The audiology team specialises in hearing assessment for babies, children and adolescents, ensuring accurate testing using age-appropriate techniques.
-
Not always. Many children improve naturally as the middle ear develops.
Treatment options may include:
Monitoring hearing over time
Managing contributing factors such as infections or allergies
Grommet insertion if hearing loss persists or affects development
The decision depends on hearing levels, symptoms and the child’s age.
-
Grommets are tiny ventilation tubes placed in the eardrum during a short procedure. They help drain fluid from the middle ear and improve hearing in children with persistent glue ear.
The operation is usually quick and children typically go home the same day.
-
Snoring is common in children, but persistent snoring can sometimes indicate sleep-disordered breathing, often due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
Signs that specialist assessment may be helpful include:
Loud or regular snoring
Pauses in breathing during sleep
Restless sleep
Daytime tiredness or behavioural difficulties
-
Surgery may be recommended when:
A child has recurrent severe tonsillitis
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids cause breathing or sleep problems
Persistent ear infections or glue ear are related to enlarged adenoids
Each case is assessed individually, and surgery is only recommended when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
-
Yes. Surgery for children is performed in specialist hospital settings with experienced paediatric anaesthetists and nursing teams.
Procedures such as grommet insertion, adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy are among the most commonly performed operations in children and are generally very safe when carried out in appropriate centres.
-
Recovery depends on the procedure:
Grommets – children usually recover quickly and return to normal activity within a few days
Adenoidectomy – mild discomfort for several days
Tonsillectomy – sore throat for around 1–2 weeks
Parents receive clear guidance on pain relief, diet and when children can return to school.
-
For self-pay consultations, parents can refer themselves without referral.
For insurance referrals, children can be referred by:
GPs
Paediatricians
Other specialists
Please check with your insurance company.
-
The consultation usually involves:
A detailed discussion with parents about symptoms and development
Examination of the ears, nose and throat
Review of hearing or sleep symptoms
Planning further tests or treatment if required
The aim is to provide clear advice and reassurance while ensuring the best care for your child.