Why Does My Child's Nose Whistle When Breathing? Could There Be a Hole in the Nasal Septum? Your child is sitting quietly, reading or watching television. Suddenly, you notice a faint whistling sound. At first, you assume they are making the noise deliberately. But then you realise something unusual. The sound seems to come from their nose whenever they breathe. It may be more noticeable when they breathe deeply. Sometimes the nose also feels dry or crusty. Occasionally, your child may experience a small nosebleed. Naturally, parents begin wondering: “Why is my child's nose whistling?” “Could something be blocking their nose?” “Is there a hole inside the nose?” “Will they need an operation?” There are several possible explanations. One relatively uncommon cause is a perforated nasal septum . Understanding what this means can help parents recognise when a simple nasal examination may be useful. What is the nasal septum? The nasal septum is the wall separating the right and lef...
My Child Passed Their Hearing Test But Still Can't Understand the Teacher—Could It Be Auditory Processing Disorder? Your child struggles at school. The teacher says they frequently ask for instructions to be repeated. They seem distracted when several children talk at once. Sometimes they misunderstand simple questions. You arrange a hearing test. The audiologist examines their ears and performs the assessment. The result is reassuring: “Your child's hearing is within the normal range.” But the problem continues. At home, your child can hear the television, respond to quiet conversations and enjoy music. Yet in a busy classroom, they seem unable to follow what people are saying. Naturally, parents begin wondering: “How can my child's hearing be normal if they cannot understand the teacher?” “Are they simply not concentrating?” “Could there be a problem with how their brain processes sound?” One possible explanation is auditory processing disorder (APD) . What is auditory ...