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Child Failed a Hearing Test? What Happens Next | London & Essex

  My Child Failed a Hearing Test – What Happens Next? A Parent’s Guide to Children’s Hearing Tests Being told that your child has not passed a hearing test can be unsettling. You may immediately wonder whether your child has permanent hearing loss, whether their speech or learning will be affected, or whether they will need treatment. The first thing to understand is that not passing a hearing screening test does not automatically mean that your child has permanent hearing loss . A screening test is designed to identify children who need a more detailed assessment. Some children have a temporary hearing problem. Others may have difficulty completing the test reliably because they are tired, distracted, nervous or simply too young to understand what they need to do. However, hearing is important for communication, speech development, learning and interaction with others, so a failed screening result should be followed up appropriately rather than ignored. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Co...
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Object Stuck in Child’s Nose or Ear | ENT Advice London & Essex

  Child Put Something in Their Nose or Ear: A Parent’s Guide for London & Essex It can happen in seconds. A toddler is playing with beads, a small toy, a pea, a piece of tissue, a rubber, a seed, a button battery or a magnet. Suddenly, they say something feels funny — or you notice a blocked nostril, ear discomfort, crying, discharge or a bad smell. For many parents, the first instinct is to try to pull it out. That is understandable, but it can sometimes make things worse. If your child has something stuck firmly in their nose or ear, it is usually safer not to poke around at home. Attempts with tweezers, cotton buds, hair clips or fingers may push the object deeper, cause bleeding, damage the ear canal or make removal more difficult. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, assesses children with ear, nose and throat concerns from London, East London, Brentwood, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Chelmsford and wider Essex. This guide explains what parents should do, what to avoid,...

Can You See Grommets in the Ear? An ENT Guide for London & Essex Patients and Parents

 Can You See Grommets in the Ear? London ENT Guide If you've recently had grommets fitted — or your child has — it's natural to want to look in the ear afterwards and check that "it's still there." Many patients in London, East London, Brentwood and across Essex ask their GP or ENT clinic some version of the same question: can you actually see a grommet in the ear? Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon , is frequently asked this in clinic, and the honest answer is: usually not much, and that is completely normal. What is a grommet? A grommet, also known as a tympanostomy tube or ventilation tube, is a tiny tube inserted into the eardrum (tympanic membrane) during a short surgical procedure called a myringotomy. Its job is to allow air into the middle ear and let trapped fluid drain, helping to correct hearing loss caused by conditions such as otitis media with effusion (commonly known as glue ear) or recurrent ear infections. Although grommets are most often...

Is Your Child's Snoring Caused by Enlarged Tonsils? A Parent's Guide for Families in London & Essex

  Is Your Child's Snoring Caused by Enlarged Tonsils? Many parents smile the first time they hear their child snore. It can sound surprisingly loud and is often dismissed as something they will simply "grow out of". While occasional snoring during a cold is common, persistent snoring several nights a week is not considered normal and may indicate that your child's airway is partly blocked during sleep. One of the commonest causes is enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids. As a Consultant ENT Surgeon, one of the questions I hear most frequently from parents across London and Essex is: "My child snores every night. Should I be worried?" The answer depends on the associated symptoms rather than the volume of the snoring alone. What are the tonsils? The tonsils are two pads of lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat. Together with the adenoids, they form part of the immune system and help recognise bacteria and viruses entering through the nose and mou...