Pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists provide unique care that children need. A child’s facial and sinus structure is significantly different than an adult’s. Babies are born with only the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses, and the sphenoid and frontal sinuses develop later in childhood. Children also experience dramatic changes in facial growth and throughout their development can encounter various ENT-related issues, including chronic sinus infections and sleep apnea.
Jeremy Foon, M.D., M.P.H., is an otolaryngologist with Eastern Oklahoma Ear, Nose & Throat, Inc. in Tulsa. His areas of expertise include pediatric ENT, allergy management, medical and surgical management of sinus issues, head and neck surgery, and sleep apnea surgery. Along with adults, his office treats children from birth to age 18.
“Pediatric ENT is something our practice is very passionate about,” says Foon. “We value all kids and manage all pediatric ENT-related issues.”
He says common reasons for parents to seek care from a pediatric ENT include ear infections, hearing loss, tongue ties, snoring and recurrent tonsil infections.
In children, it’s important for problems to be diagnosed quickly and treated effectively. For instance, hearing loss can impact speech and language skills and could be caused by an infection, fluid buildup or congenital issues.
Children are also impacted by seasonal allergies, with Oklahoma often ranked as one of the worst states in the nation for these issues. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five children in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies.
“Many people don’t realize that we provide comprehensive allergy care,” says Foon. “This includes allergy medication management, allergy testing and allergy shots or sublingual drops.”
He also shares that one of the most under recognized issues in children is sleep apnea.
“In a large portion of children this is due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids,” he says. “Symptoms include snoring, mouth breathing, dental issues, hyperactivity and poor focus. Longterm, this can lead to other issues like heart disease.”
The American Heart Association reports that approximately six percent of all U.S. children and adolescents have obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, mild cases of sleep apnea, defined as two pauses in breathing per hour, are associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome in children.
“If your child has these issues, please consider having your pediatrician check your child’s tonsils or come see us in the ENT clinic,” says Foon.
Children aren’t just small adults – their unique anatomy and rapid development require specialized care. Pediatric ENT specialists offer the expertise needed to support a child’s long-term health and development.
