Why Does My Child Keep Clearing Their Throat? A Parent’s Guide “ Ahem… ahem… ahem. ” Once you notice your child repeatedly clearing their throat, it can become difficult to ignore. Perhaps it happens every few minutes while they watch television. Their teacher may mention it at school. Some children repeatedly sniff as well; others say they feel mucus in their throat or that “something is there”, even though they otherwise seem completely well. Parents naturally wonder whether this means allergy, enlarged adenoids, reflux, infection—or even something stuck in the throat. Persistent throat clearing in children has several possible causes , and the symptom pattern is often more informative than the sound itself. Sometimes nasal mucus irritates the throat. Sometimes the throat remains sensitive following a viral infection. In other children, repeated clearing gradually becomes a learnt or habitual behaviour. Throat clearing can also occur as a vocal tic. The important point i...
My Child’s Ears Are Blocked With Wax — Should It Be Removed? Parents often look inside their child’s ear and immediately think: “There’s a lot of wax in there. Should I clean it out?” In most cases, the answer is no . Earwax is normal. The skin of the ear canal produces it naturally, and it helps protect the ear from dust, dirt, and microorganisms. Most wax gradually moves towards the entrance of the ear and comes out without anybody needing to clean deep inside the canal. The problem arises when wax builds up sufficiently to block the ear canal , interfere with hearing or prevent a clinician from examining the eardrum. NHS guidance lists hearing loss, earache or blocked-ear sensation, tinnitus and sometimes dizziness among symptoms that can occur with excessive earwax. In children, another important consideration is that even a temporary reduction in hearing can affect classroom listening, speech perception, and communication. This guide explains when earwax is normal, ...