AdventHealth Medical Group Ear, Nose & Throat at Parker

Our audiologists provide exceptional hearing care to both pediatric and adult patients. We specialize in evaluations, hearing aid services and balance testing. Our medical model integrates hearing and ENT services, providing patients with a complete circle of hearing care. Our values of strength, compassion, hope, innovation and expertise are strongly represented in our commitment to patient care.

Our services include:

• Assessments for balance disorders
• Custom ear molds (for noise protection, musicians or swimming)
• Hearing aid consultations and fittings
• Hearing aid evaluations and repairs
• Hearing evaluations
• Newborn hearing evaluations

People with allergies have an immune system that reacts to a typically harmless substance — an allergen — in the environment. Common allergens include pollen, mold, trees or weeds. Once exposed to an allergen through swallowing or inhaling, your body stimulates a series of events, creating a reaction. Once your body experiences an allergy reaction, it produces antibodies that bind to the allergen. Histamine, the main chemical produced, causes your allergy symptoms.

There are several different treatment options available for seasonal allergies. It’s important to avoid irritants that trigger your seasonal allergies, such as pollen, plants, weeds or mold. Because pollen counts vary by geographic location, tracking pollen counts in your area is beneficial.

Medications like antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and eye drops can also treat symptoms. Allergy testing is also an option and can help identify the specific allergens causing your body’s reaction.

We are highly experienced and knowledgeable about the different allergy treatment options. If you’re experiencing allergy symptoms, contact us to schedule an appointment. Our dedicated providers will help you find relief.

We offer full-service pediatric ENT care, including treatment for ear tubes, pediatric disabilities, pediatric hearing loss and chronic ear infections.

Ear infections are common in children, with nearly half having three infections by age 6. Ear infections are due to frequent colds, upper respiratory infections, and the anatomy of children’s Eustachian tubes. Colds or upper respiratory infections also increase mucus production and swelling that blocks the Eustachian tube.

A single ear infection that resolves is generally not a long-term concern. However, frequent or chronic infections often lead to persistent fluid behind the eardrum, which may produce temporary hearing loss. This can significantly affect a child's speech and language development.

We perform a comprehensive evaluation of pediatric chronic ear infections. This would include a thorough review of the child's history of ear infections, including treatments and outcomes. Hearing testing, if necessary, can be performed by our experienced pediatric-trained audiologists. Based on the evaluation, our physicians will recommend treatment options to best meet your child’s needs.

A newborn’s hearing should be tested before they leave the hospital or after a home birth. To ensure hearing loss is identified, Colorado hospitals must provide a hearing screen before discharge. Identifying hearing problems and acting as early as possible gives babies the best chance to develop normal hearing, speech and language.

When initial screening is abnormal, it doesn’t always mean your baby has hearing loss. But it’s vital to have follow-up testing to identify the issue. Follow-up testing is more extensive and can confirm whether your baby has hearing loss.

This specialized testing, called auditory brainstem response (ABR), is performed by our experienced pediatric-trained audiologists. If results are irregular, our physicians will evaluate your baby to diagnose possible causes of hearing loss and recommend further testing and treatment. Our physicians and audiologists work together to recommend and coordinate rehabilitative services and care for your baby's hearing, speech and language development.

For many years, it was said that children cannot get sinus infections because they do not have sinuses. However, children do have sinuses when born, although very small. Sinuses develop quickly, such that kids can develop sinus infections by age 1. Most sinus infections begin with a cold or viral upper respiratory infection. However, they can also develop as a result of allergies.

Symptoms

Your child’s sinus infections will initially be evaluated by their primary care provider. Treatment may include antibiotics, but many sinus infections clear on their own. Determining the difference between a viral upper respiratory infection or cold and a sinus infection is often difficult. When sinus infections become persistent, it may be time to consider evaluation by an ENT specialist.

Our physicians have extensive experience in treating pediatric sinusitis. Evaluation beyond the initial history and physical examination may include telescopic viewing of the nasal cavity, lab testing for allergies, X-rays and a computed tomography (CT) exam.

Based on this information provided by diagnostic testing, our physicians can recommend the best ongoing treatments for:

• A persistent cough that’s often worse at night
• Fever
• Headache or facial pain
• Persistent runny nose, often with colored secretions
• Severe nasal congestion

Balloon Sinuplasty

Surgery may be recommended depending on the severity of the situation. In children with chronic sinus issues, this may include adenoid removal and surgery on the sinuses. In the past, sinus surgery involved the removal of tissue and bone to drain the sinuses. With technological advances, there is now a non-invasive procedure to drain the sinuses and help prevent future sinus issues called balloon sinuplasty.

In this procedure, a small plastic tube is inserted into the sinus opening. A balloon in the plastic tube gently inflates to stretch the sinus opening. The balloon is then deflated and removed. This procedure is non-invasive, safe and very effective in children.