Childhood Ear Disorders
Members of the division are among the most experienced in the world in managing childhood ear disorders, including middle ear disease, congenital ear anomalies, chronic ear disorders, and sensorineural hearing loss. Through the Hearing Center and Congenital Ear Center, they provide expert evaluation, diagnosis, and advanced therapy for disorders of the ear, including:
- All types of otitis media
- Aural atresia
- Microtia
- Prominent ears
- Malformed ears
- Conductive hearing loss
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Cholesteatoma
- Tympanic membrane perforation
- Mastoiditis
Airway and breathing disorders
This unique regional resource manages a wide range of congenital and acquired airway disorders in children, including:
- Severe subglottic stenosis
- Posterior subglottic stenoses
- Supraglottic stenosis
- Combination stenoses
- Stent cases
- Revision cases
- Laryngeal clefts
- Laryngotracheoesophageal clefts
- Tracheal stenoses
- Base of tongue/epiglottic collapse
Innovative surgical interventions are employed, such as the novel use of lasers, procedures involving cartilage and mucosal grafting, and minimally invasive endoscopic techniques. Ancillary medical conditions, including those involving speech, swallowing, and the pulmonary and gastrointestinal systems, are included in the assessment and treatment plan. Video-recording capabilities complement the structural OR assessment. In addition, a patient database and registry are maintained. Approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Pittsburgh, they allow for the collection of specialized patient data.
Childhood voice, resonance, and swallowing disorders
A team of specialists from the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, including physicians, a voice nurse, and pediatric speech and language pathologists, provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of the full range of voice, resonance, and swallowing conditions, including vocal fatigue, problems with nasality, drooling, and other conditions associated with problems managing salivatory secretions.
In addition to a full medical evaluation, specialized tests are offered, including:
- Measures of vocal, aerodynamic, and acoustic parameters as they relate to voice
- Cookie swallows to further evaluate swallowing function
- Dynamic X-ray studies to help assess severe resonance problems
- Full endoscopic evaluations
The team’s comprehensive approach to evaluation and diagnosis also includes identifying additional conditions, such as reflux or allergies, that might be involved in a voice or swallowing problem.