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Otolaryngology

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World-class care for children with head, neck, airway and communication conditions

Our pediatric otolaryngologists (ENT doctors) specialize in caring for children with a broad range of head and neck conditions, from persistent middle-ear issues to complex airway restrictions. Whether common or rare, these conditions can profoundly affect your child’s life — how they sleep, hear, speak, swallow and breathe.

As University of Washington faculty members, our specialists are exceptional surgeons and academic leaders. We do much more than follow current standards. We actively research, develop and refine the advanced therapies used nationwide for babies, children, teens and young adults.

Why choose Seattle Children’s for your child’s otolaryngology surgery?

Dedicated specialists for growing kids: Our pediatric otolaryngologists are world-class experts focused on diagnosing and treating infants, children and teens with head and neck conditions. Our team provides warm, tailored care at every step — from common needs like ear tubes for toddlers with chronic ear infections and pediatric tonsillectomies for obstructive sleep apnea, to advanced cochlear implants and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) speech therapy.
National leaders in complex and rare care: Families across the region trust Seattle Children’s when their child needs care for rare, life-threatening or urgent head and neck conditions. Our team brings unmatched surgical expertise and deep clinical experience to high-risk procedures. These include complex pediatric airway reconstruction, pediatric evaluation, thyroid cancer surgery and precise skull base surgeries.
Multidisciplinary subspecialty programs: With specialized centers under one roof, we give your child the most complete, collaborative care possible. These include our Airway and Esophageal Center, Childhood Communication Center, Craniofacial Center, Hearing Loss Clinic, Vascular Anomalies Program, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Program, Thyroid Program and Cranial Base Program.
World-class care, close to home: Our pediatric otolaryngology specialists see patients at convenient clinics across Puget Sound — including Bellevue, Everett and Federal Way — and at our hospital in Seattle.
Nationally ranked excellence: Year after year, U.S. News & World Report ranks Seattle Children’s among the top pediatric hospitals in the nation. We partner with families from infancy through age 20 to deliver extraordinary outcomes.

Conditions We Treat

From noisy breathing and snoring to complex airway conditions, our team gives babies, children and teens personalized medical and surgical care.

Ears and hearing

Our Treatments and Services

Ears and hearing

Hearing loss and deafness treatments: Our pediatric otolaryngologists lead Seattle Children’s Hearing Loss Clinic (PDF) and Childhood Communication Center for early identification and comprehensive care of children with profound hearing loss. Treatments include pediatric cochlear implants (PDF), implantable devices, advanced audiology and speech therapy.
Ear tubes (myringotomy): Relief for chronic ear infections and persistent ear fluid. Read about ear tube surgery (PDF).
Tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy (PDF): Surgery to repair a hole in the eardrum (tympanoplasty) or remove cells (cholesteatoma [PDF]) behind the ear within the mastoid bone (mastoidectomy).
Otoplasty: Surgery to change the shape, position or size of the outer ear.
Microtia treatment: Specialized care and reconstructive options for children born with an underdeveloped or missing outer ear.
Ear splinting or molding (PDF) to treat ears that are not shaped normally. This can change the shape of the ear permanently if started before 6 weeks of age.

Airway, breathing and voice

Leading-edge care for complex breathing, voice and swallowing disorders. Our team leads treatment for these challenging conditions, partnering with Seattle Children’s experts in the Craniofacial Center and Airway and Esophageal Center.
Reconstruction of pediatric airway disorders including , , , tracheal slings, and vocal cord paralysis. We also provide tracheostomy (PDF) management as needed.
Diagnostic scope procedures and voice therapy to treat noisy breathing (stridor) and hoarseness.
Pediatric sleep assessments and surgical solutions for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children (PDF). Treatments we offer include tonsillectomy (PDF) and .
Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), offering surgical options and speech therapy to improve children’s palate function and speech clarity.

Nose and sinus care

Minimally invasive pediatric endoscopic sinus surgery (PDF) and medical management for issues like chronic sinusitis and .
Surgery for nasal obstructions including repair and turbinate reduction (PDF) to improve breathing.

Head and neck

Our pediatric otolaryngologists are world-class experts in diagnosing and treating tumors, lumps and cysts in the head and neck. We partner with specialists across Seattle Children’s — including our Thyroid Program, Vascular Anomalies Program, Cranial Base Program and Head and Neck Oncology team — to provide compassionate, comprehensive, multidisciplinary care tailored for children with:

Rare pediatric head and neck tumors: If a tumor is cancerous, your child will receive care from Seattle Children’s world-class pediatric oncologists.
Complex thyroid conditions: Expert management for thyroid cysts, nodules and cancers.
Vascular malformations: Advanced care for conditions such as hemangiomas, vascular birthmarks, venous malformations and lymphatic malformations.
Complex cranial base tumors: Our surgeons work closely with leading pediatric neurosurgeons to perform advanced, minimally invasive and open procedures for children with tumors at the base of the skull.