Three ear infections since Easter. A runny nose that’s lasted all winter. Snoring that you can hear from the hallway. If any of this sounds familiar, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s time for a specialist.
Most ear, nose, and throat problems in children are short-lived, and your GP is the right first stop. But some issues keep coming back or start to affect how your child sleeps, learns, and plays. These are the signs your child needs an ENT specialist, and knowing them makes it easier to decide when to take your child to an ENT.
An ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist treats problems in the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. Here’s what to look for and how the process works.
If you’re asking whether your child needs a specialist, start with three simple questions:
If you’ve answered yes to any of these, it’s worth raising it with your GP or booking an appointment with a specialist. One ear infection usually isn’t a concern. A pattern is.
Every child is different, but these are the most common reasons to see a paediatric ENT. Paediatric simply means the care is focused on babies, children, and teenagers.
Plenty of children snore now and then, especially when they have a cold. Regular snoring is different. According to KidsHealth, approximately 15 to 20% of children snore, and 2 to 5% have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA happens when the airway partially closes during sleep, interrupting your child’s breathing.
But if your child snores, when is it time to see a doctor? Book an appointment if your child snores most nights, or if you notice pauses in their breathing, gasping, snorting, or very restless sleep. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are one of the most common causes in children.
A child mouth-breathing at night often means the nose is blocked. In young children, the usual cause is enlarged adenoids. These are small pads of tissue at the back of the nose that you can’t see when you look in your child’s mouth.
Look for a dry mouth or bad breath in the morning, a damp pillow from drooling, and a child who wakes up tired after a full night’s sleep. If your child breathes through their mouth most nights, it’s worth having it checked, as it can affect how well they sleep.
The odd ear infection is a normal part of childhood. Repeated infections, or fluid left behind after an infection clears, can affect your child’s hearing for weeks at a time. If you’re unsure what to look for, our guide to glue ear symptoms covers the signs in more detail.
Hearing problems in children are often easy to miss. You might notice your child turning the TV up, saying “What?” a lot, or not answering when you call from another room. Sometimes it’s a kindy or school teacher who notices first.
Children learn to talk by listening. If your child’s speech seems behind for their age, an ear problem could be part of the picture.
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, the two lumps of tissue at the back of the throat. It’s common, but some children seem to get it again and again, which makes it one of the most frequent reasons to see a paediatric ENT. If sore throats are causing regular days off school or kindy, a specialist can talk you through your options, including whether removing the tonsils makes sense.
Kids pick up a lot of colds, especially during an Auckland winter. But a nose that never seems to clear between colds, or nosebleeds that happen often or are hard to stop, usually has a cause that can be found. Allergies, enlarged adenoids, and ongoing sinus problems are common reasons.
Most neck lumps in children are swollen lymph nodes reacting to an infection like a cold, and they settle on their own. Get a lump checked if it lasts more than a few weeks, keeps getting bigger, feels hard, or comes with fevers, night sweats, or weight loss.
Some of the clearest signs of a sleep or breathing problem show up during the day. A child who isn’t sleeping well doesn’t always look sleepy. Instead, they may be grumpy or overactive, or struggle to focus at school. These changes are easy to dismiss as a phase, but they could be signs your child needs an ENT specialist.
If your child’s teacher mentions trouble paying attention and your child also snores, bring them both up with your doctor at the same appointment.
It’s a common question: what conditions does a children’s ENT specialist treat? The short answer is anything that affects the ears, nose, throat, head, or neck. The most common include:
Paediatric care in Auckland doesn’t always mean surgery. Many children improve with monitoring or medication, and surgery is only recommended when it’s likely to make a clear difference to your child’s health.
If you’re wondering, “Do I need a referral for a paediatric ENT in NZ?”, the answer depends on whether you go through the public or private system.
In the public system, your GP sends a referral to the hospital ENT service. At Starship, for example, a consultant reviews each referral letter and decides who should be seen first based on how urgent the symptoms are. It’s a fair process, but it can mean a wait for problems that aren’t urgent.
In private care, a letter from your GP is still helpful because it gives the specialist your child’s history. If you have health insurance, it’s worth checking with your insurer too, as some need a referral before they’ll cover the appointment.
Our practice is purely private and separate from the public health system. Your child can be seen with minimal delay, and our team can let you know what’s needed before your first visit.
Your first visit starts with a conversation. The specialist will ask about your child’s symptoms, how long they’ve lasted, and how they’re affecting everyday life.
Next, the specialist will gently look at your child’s ears, nose, and throat. It shouldn’t hurt, and most children find it more interesting than scary. Depending on the symptoms, your child may also have a hearing test.
Two things can help the appointment go smoothly. Bring a list of any medicines your child has already tried. If snoring is the concern, record a minute or two on your phone, because a short video shows a specialist exactly what’s happening at night.
If you’re still unsure when to take your child to an ENT, here’s a simple rule. If your child’s symptoms keep coming back, aren’t improving, or are affecting sleep, learning, or play, it’s time to see a specialist. You know your child best, so trust your instincts.
If your child is struggling to breathe or can’t swallow fluids, call 111 or go to your nearest emergency care provider immediately.
For everything else, Dr Benjamin Chan is a specialist head and neck surgeon offering private care in Auckland. We build each child’s treatment plan around their symptoms and your family’s needs. When you’re ready, you can book an appointment for your child, and we’ll take it from there.
