Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery

The Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology provides care for children from birth to 18 years of age with all types of ear, nose and throat conditions.  Our team is made of pediatric otolaryngologists, who take care of only children, general otolaryngologists, who care for adults and children, and otologists who are ear specialists for adults and children.

Children come to see us for many reasons, often sent to us by their pediatrician for specialty evaluation in the following areas: breathing disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic tonsillitis, abnormalities of the voice box and trachea, hoarseness, hearing loss, ear infections, speech and language concerns, swallowing disorders, neck masses, thyroid masses, vascular anomalies, birth defects affecting the face, head, and neck, problems associated with clefting of the lip and palate, cholesteatoma, cochlear implantation, and chronic sinus infections, among other conditions.

Many of the services that we provide are through collaborations with other subspecialists at Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.  We work closely with our colleagues in pulmonary medicine to provide care for children who require tracheostomies and home ventilators.  We also provide care through the multidisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Team for children born with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial anomalies.  The pediatric otolaryngology team also participates in the Vascular Anomalies Clinic to provide children with medical and surgical options for these challenging lesions.  Our group also is a vital part of one of the most busy programs in the country in caring for children with hearing loss.  We provide medical and surgical services for children with hearing loss, offering options of surgical reconstruction, hearing amplification, Baha, and cochlear implantation. 

We provide both medical and surgical care for our patients and will help you understand the conditions that are affecting your child. It is natural to have concerns about the possible need for surgery and we are here to support you and your family through the process.