Ears and hearing: why does my child hear less?
Recurring earache, reduced hearing or a child who keeps asking "what?" are typical reasons for an appointment. What parents call water in the ear (Paukenerguss, glue ear, serous or mucous otitis media) is fluid behind the eardrum that muffles hearing, often without any pain.
The middle ear is assessed with ear microscopy and tympanometry, together with an age-appropriate hearing test. If the fluid persists, an incision of the eardrum (Parazentese, myringotomy) and grommets (Paukenröhrchen, tympanostomy tubes) can be discussed and are performed in a hospital.
- Recurring middle ear infections (otitis media)
- Water in the ear (Paukenerguss, glue ear)
- Reduced hearing, delayed speech development, television turned up loud
- Follow-up after myringotomy (Parazentese) or grommets (Paukenröhrchen)
Do adenoids (polyps) always have to be removed?
Constant mouth breathing, a blocked nose and restless nights in children usually come from the adenoid. Parents say polyps, children's polyps or third tonsil; the medical terms are adenoids (Adenoide), adenoid vegetations or adenoid hyperplasia. The bare word "polyps" is misleading, because in adults it means nasal polyps — a completely different finding.
The adenoid can be assessed with a short, gentle endoscopic examination if the child cooperates. If symptoms persist, removal of the adenoid (Adenotomie, adenoidectomy) is the usual surgical step; it is carried out in a hospital and discussed calmly beforehand.
Throat and tonsils
The tonsils (Tonsillen) are a frequent topic in children. Tonsillitis (Mandelentzündung) can be viral or bacterial; not every episode needs an antibiotic. What matters is how often it happens, how it runs and how much it affects daily life.
If the tonsils are so large that breathing or swallowing is impaired, tonsil reduction (Tonsillotomie) may be considered. With very frequent infections, tonsil removal (Tonsillektomie) is reviewed. Both are performed in a hospital; the decision is made together with the parents and without promising a particular outcome.
When should snoring in my child be examined?
Regular snoring, breathing pauses during sleep, restless sleep, mouth breathing and daytime tiredness or poor concentration are reasons to be examined. In children, enlarged adenoids (Adenoide) and tonsils (Tonsillen) are the most common cause.
Nose, throat and tonsils are assessed and the finding is put into context. If obstructive sleep apnoea is suspected, referral for a sleep study follows, because that diagnosis can only be confirmed by a sleep measurement.
Allergy in children
A permanently runny or blocked nose without infection, sneezing attacks and itchy eyes in certain months point to allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Allergy testing — allergy test, skin test, prick test — is available in this practice for children as well as adults.
The result is discussed together and combined with the ENT findings, because untreated allergy affects a child's nasal breathing, sleep and middle ear. Details are on the allergy testing page.
Parents' words and professional terms
- Polyps, children's polyps, third tonsil → adenoids (Adenoide, adenoide Vegetationen, Rachenmandelhyperplasie)
- Removal of polyps → adenoidectomy (Adenotomie)
- Water in the ear, fluid in the middle ear → glue ear (Paukenerguss, Serotympanon, Mukotympanon)
- Cut in the eardrum → myringotomy (Parazentese)
- Grommets → tympanostomy tubes (Paukenröhrchen, Paukendrainage)
- Tonsils → Tonsillen
- Tonsil infection → tonsillitis (Tonsillitis)
- Tonsil removal → tonsillectomy (Tonsillektomie)
- Tonsil reduction → tonsillotomy (Tonsillotomie)
Costs and insurance
Private practice (Wahlarzt). Austrian public insurance refunds part of the fee on request; we provide the invoice you need.