ENT's vs Reg. Doc

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

OK, so I feel real goofy asking this but I just have to know.

What is the difference btwn a ENT doctor and Brook's regular Doctor? I didn't even know of a ENT until I came to the boards Duhh mom

What do they do? I know ears, nose, throat but are they a special doctor?

Should I take Brook to see one just for a check up?

I hear alot about adnoids and tonsils needing to be removed in our kids and even though I don't like the idea, surgery and all, should Brook be seen?

Her 2 yr check up is soon and if I ask Dr. Tami she will hook me up w/ the ENT at Doernbecker if I want. Should I ask?

I know this is probally really silly but I needed to ask the experts. ie: you guys ;D

[dpurvis]

Hey Googsmom!!
I think if you needed to take Brooke to an ENT that your pediatrician would refer you to one. She must be doing okay with her ears, tonsils, adnoids, etc. Ashleigh had her tonsils and adnoids out at four years old. She has also had five sets of tubes in her ears - the last set they put in were permanent tubes!! She has an inner ear infection right now - so we see an ENT a lot, unfortunately. Now, when she has problems with her ears, I don't call the pediatrcian, I just go ahead and call the ENT doctor - it saves us a trip because she just refers us to him anyway!!

Debbie

[Emilysmom]

I went to a conference a few years ago (Ds conference) and one of the speakers was an ENT from Cincinnati. She said the MOST important thing is to make sure our kids docs can actually SEE their ear drums. Because of the fact that the ear canals are smaller, it's harder to actually see the ear drum, and you really can't call the exam "complete" till the doc sees it. If the regular pediatrician sees everything they need to see, and finds no problems, I don't think the child needs a consult with an ENT. Emily didn't see one till she was 4, and needed to have her tonsils removed. And, I don't think she has been seen by one since then. But then, she was fortunate to not have ear infections, fluid in her ears, etc.

Susan

[Chris too]

ENT's are great if your kid has lots of ear infections, gets bronchitis or that sort of thing. Like Susan said, if Brook's reg doc can't see her eustacian tubes well enough, she may have fluid in there without your doc realizing it. If she can't see those tubes & the tympony test shows fluid or is inconclusive, then ask to see an ENT.

Stevie's surgery was done by an ENT, because it was on her voicebox, but after that she saw the pulmonary specialists, because the trouble was really obstructive apnea (fixed by ENT, checked for a few months by pulmonary).

ENT is a specialty that you call in if there is a suspicion of trouble, but not otherwise.

Happy Memorial Day!

[Valerie]

Oh, no, don't throw another specialist in the mix unless you have to!

I would think your regular doctor would be fine unless there's some sort of problem that would send you on to the ENT. In our case it was numerous ear infections, getting tubes put in, and finally tonsils and adenoids removed this past January. Haven't seen the ENT since his post op follow up, and really hope we don't have to anymore! ;D

[steffaroni]

Hi... Liv too saw the ENt at 4 cause her tonsils were so big looked like she had a big BUTT in the back of her throat. lol. So at 4 she had t n a surgery too. She's never had ear infections or hearing deficits(as a matter of fact me thinx she hears the best in the family little sneak). YES to checking for fluid in her ears and making sure they truly can see in there. I always use debrox a few days prior to seeing her ped to make sure they can see all the way in her due to wax buildup. The debrox will clean out the wax buts very messy so use old pillowcases and sheet at night when you use it.. good luck i wouldn't worry bout it unless your ped says to go. steff

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

I always was told that Brook has "seashell" ears on the inside. Like curly, circles, round de rounds. Does that even make sence. I don't know how to explain it. I hope that Dr. Tami can see all the way in there. I'll just ask her if she can see all the way in there. Brook has only had one ear infection. Knock on wood!!! She passed her hearing test when she was one yr old. We go back to the hearing doctor in a couple weeks. (They called the other day and asked if I forgot she had to be there 6 months ago.... oops, i did forget... bad mommy ) I remember them saying they saw no fluid in there and her ears looked good.

Thanks everyone for your help. I don't want to add another doctor to the mix. I'm slowly loosing them all Thank God and knock on wood again!!

Happy Memorial Day to you too Chris

[Chris too]

Jennifer, a tympany test is good for screening for fluid if they can't see. Our pediatrician has one, and if I ask, they will use it. There is a certain amount of skill required to use it correctly, but the good news is that if they don't use it correctly, or if there is too much wax in the way the results are obvious. If they get a wave form at all, they've likely used it correctly, and the shape of the wave tells a tale. "Hmmm," they say, "looks like she might have some fluid back there. Better see an ENT to have a look at those tiny tubes." The pediatric ENT has better equipment for looking at the teeniest-tiniest tubes - or "seashell" ears, I'm sure.

One ear infection sounds good - no worry there. I'd just have them use the tympany at her next regular visit.

[damarasmom]

So very lucky that she has only had 1 ear infection. I agree, if she needed an ENT, your Pedi would have said something. Damara had many many visits and has had 3 sets of tubes, Tonsil and Adnoid removal...not a fun experience...Count your blessings, one less thing to think about!

[Renee']

i am late on this but Lauren has an AMAZING ENT. She had ear infections all the time. We finally took her in for the 7th set of ear tubes. The 7th are the perm. tubes.