Why Is My Child’s Breathing Noisy? A Parent’s Guide to Stridor, Croup and When to Seek Help Hearing an unusual noise when your child breathes can be frightening. Parents may describe the sound as squeaky, harsh, wheezy, whistling or “croupy”. Some notice it only when their child is crying or excited. Others hear it while the child is resting or sleeping. One of the most important points is that not all noisy breathing is the same . A noise coming from the nose is different from a wheeze coming from the lower airways. A harsh sound when a child inhales may be stridor , which can indicate narrowing of the upper airway or voice box. Many causes of noisy breathing in children are treatable, and some are temporary. However, because a child’s airway is relatively small, worsening breathing difficulty should always be taken seriously. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, assesses children with ear, nose, throat, voice and upper-airway concerns from Lond...
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...