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Child Travel Sickness & Motion Sensitivity | London & Essex

  Why Does My Child Get Travel Sick? A Parent’s Guide to Motion Sensitivity Travel sickness can turn a family journey into a stressful experience. A child may become pale, quiet, sweaty, dizzy, nauseous or suddenly vomit during a car journey, coach trip, ferry crossing, flight or theme-park ride. For some families, it happens occasionally. For others, every long drive becomes a challenge. Parents often ask: “Is this just normal travel sickness, or could there be something wrong with my child’s ears or balance system?” The reassuring answer is that travel sickness is common in children and is often manageable with practical steps. However, some children have symptoms that are more severe, persistent or associated with other problems such as dizziness, headaches, hearing symptoms or balance concerns. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon , assesses children with ear, hearing and balance-related concerns from London, East London, Brentwood, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Chelmsford and...

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LAX VOX

  LAX VOX  is a vocal therapy technique that can help improve voice quality, relaxation, and overall vocal health. It involves using a unique tube to create  bubbling sounds  while phonating.  Here are the steps for practising LAX VOX: Relax and Focus on Posture and Breathing : Maintain a good posture with a long spine. Relax your face, neck, upper back, and chest muscles, allowing them to release toward gravity. Preparing for Bubbling with Phonation : Place a  silicone tube  (about 35 cm long and 9-12 mm in diameter) between or in front of your incisor teeth and above your tongue. Keep your tongue relaxed (imagine it as a piece of steak) and slightly touch the tube. Hold the water-filled bottle near your body to avoid using shoulder muscles. Inhale through your nose as if you’re yawning with your mouth closed. Prepare for phonation during exhalation, focusing on abdominal and lower back muscles. Finding the Target Voice : Create bubbling sounds with y...
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Retracted Ear Drum

  What Is a Retracted Eardrum? A retracted eardrum, also known as tympanic membrane retraction, is a condition where the eardrum (tympanic membrane) is pulled inward or drawn backwards from its normal position. The eardrum is a thin, delicate membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the outer ear to the middle ear, where the auditory ossicles (small bones) are located.   Under normal circumstances, the eardrum is slightly concave and positioned at an angle that allows it to respond to changes in air pressure. The Eustachian tube, a tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat, helps equalize pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment.   However, in cases of a retracted eardrum, the Eustachian tube might not function correctly or become blocked, leading to an imbalance in pressure. When negative pressure builds up in the middle ear, it causes the eardrum t...
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Private Pediatric Coblation Tonsillectomy London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar

Private Pediatric Coblation Tonsillectomy London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar Coblation Tonsillectomy for Children: A Gentler, Less Painful Option in London and Essex When a child suffers from chronically enlarged tonsils that disrupt their breathing at night, or recurrent bouts of tonsillitis that cause high fevers and missed school days, surgical removal is often the most effective long-term solution. However, the prospect of a traditional tonsillectomy can make many parents incredibly anxious, primarily due to concerns over post-operative throat pain and a lengthy recovery period. Fortunately, modern surgical advancements have introduced a technique designed specifically to address these concerns: Coblation Tonsillectomy . If you are looking into private treatment options for your child outside of overstretched local NHS waiting lists, understanding how this gentle technology works can help you make an informed choice. This guide breaks down the benefits of coblation and how famil...
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After your Epley manoeuvre — patient information leaflet

  What this leaflet tells you This leaflet explains what to expect after the Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre for posterior-canal BPPV, what you should and shouldn’t do, and when to seek help.   1. Quick summary — what the Epley did The manoeuvre moves tiny particles (otoconia) out of the balance canal of your inner ear and back into a place where they don’t cause spinning (vertigo). Most people feel much better after one or a few treatments. However BPPV can come back (recurrence is common).   2. How you may feel immediately afterwards You may feel dizzy or off-balance for a few minutes to a few hours; nausea is possible.   Some people feel better straightaway; others get gradual improvement over days.   Rarely ,you may have brief recurrences of vertigo — this does not always mean the manoeuvre failed.   3. Activity and posture — what the evidence says Good news: High-quality studies and recent guidelines show that strict he...
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Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery: Day-by-Day Guide After Tonsil Surgery

  Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery: What to Expect Day by Day Adult tonsillectomy can significantly improve quality of life for people struggling with recurrent tonsillitis, chronic sore throats or repeated throat infections. However, recovery after adult tonsil surgery is often more uncomfortable than many patients expect. Understanding the normal stages of recovery can help reduce anxiety and allow patients to prepare properly before surgery. This guide explains what adults commonly experience after tonsillectomy, how to support recovery safely, and when to seek urgent medical advice. Why is adult tonsillectomy recovery difficult? The tonsils sit in an area that moves constantly during swallowing, eating and speaking. After surgery, the throat heals gradually over approximately two weeks. Adults generally experience: Significant throat pain Pain when swallowing Ear pain (referred pain from the throat) Tiredness and reduced energy Disturbed sleep Temporary bad brea...
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Object Stuck in Child’s Nose or Ear | ENT Advice London & Essex

  Child Put Something in Their Nose or Ear: A Parent’s Guide for London & Essex It can happen in seconds. A toddler is playing with beads, a small toy, a pea, a piece of tissue, a rubber, a seed, a button battery or a magnet. Suddenly, they say something feels funny — or you notice a blocked nostril, ear discomfort, crying, discharge or a bad smell. For many parents, the first instinct is to try to pull it out. That is understandable, but it can sometimes make things worse. If your child has something stuck firmly in their nose or ear, it is usually safer not to poke around at home. Attempts with tweezers, cotton buds, hair clips or fingers may push the object deeper, cause bleeding, damage the ear canal or make removal more difficult. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, assesses children with ear, nose and throat concerns from London, East London, Brentwood, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Chelmsford and wider Essex. This guide explains what parents should do, what to avoid,...
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Earbuds vs Over-Ears: Which One Is Silently Damaging Your Hearing?

Headphones are no longer an occasional accessory—they’re part of daily life. From early-morning podcasts to late-night playlists, our ears are spending more time under acoustic load than ever before. But a question keeps coming up in clinics, classrooms, and conversations around ear health: Are earbuds worse for your hearing than over-ear headphones? Let’s move beyond opinion and aesthetics. By looking at sound pressure levels , hygiene , and long-term listening behaviour , we can reach a clear, evidence-informed conclusion. 1. Sound Pressure Levels: Distance Matters More Than You Think The single most important factor in headphone-related hearing risk is the amount of sound energy that  reaches the inner ear . Earbuds (In-Ear Headphones) Sit millimetres from the eardrum Deliver sound directly into the ear canal Require lower absolute power , but often result in higher sound pressure at the cochlea Users tend to increase volume in noisy environments (commuting, g...
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Is Your Child's Snoring Caused by Enlarged Tonsils? A Parent's Guide for Families in London & Essex

  Is Your Child's Snoring Caused by Enlarged Tonsils? Many parents smile the first time they hear their child snore. It can sound surprisingly loud and is often dismissed as something they will simply "grow out of". While occasional snoring during a cold is common, persistent snoring several nights a week is not considered normal and may indicate that your child's airway is partly blocked during sleep. One of the commonest causes is enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids. As a Consultant ENT Surgeon, one of the questions I hear most frequently from parents across London and Essex is: "My child snores every night. Should I be worried?" The answer depends on the associated symptoms rather than the volume of the snoring alone. What are the tonsils? The tonsils are two pads of lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat. Together with the adenoids, they form part of the immune system and help recognise bacteria and viruses entering through the nose and mou...
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When Are Big Tonsils a Problem? A Parent’s Guide to Enlarged Tonsils in Children | London & Essex

When Are Big Tonsils a Problem? A Parent's Guide to Enlarged Tonsils in Children Many parents are told during a routine GP visit, "Your child has very large tonsils." The next question is almost always: "Do they need removing?" The answer is not always. Some children have naturally large tonsils that never cause any problems. Others develop breathing difficulties, disturbed sleep, repeated infections or poor school performance because their enlarged tonsils partially block the airway. Understanding the difference helps parents make informed decisions. As a Consultant ENT Surgeon seeing children across London, East London, Brentwood and Essex , one of the commonest questions I hear is: "How do I know whether my child's tonsils are normal or actually causing problems?" This guide explains exactly what parents should look for.   What Are Tonsils? Tonsils are part of the body's immune system. They sit on either side of...
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Flying with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction | London & Essex ENT

  Dread the Descent? Tips for Flying with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Blocked Ears in East London, Brentwood and Essex For most holidaymakers or business travellers across East London, Brentwood and Essex, boarding a flight is the start of an exciting journey. But if you suffer from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) , looking at a plane ticket can fill you with pure dread. The thought of that final 30-minute descent—waiting for a sharp, agonizing pop or a feeling of absolute deafness that lasts for days after landing—is enough to make anyone anxious. You might find yourself frantically chewing gum, swallowing hard, or panicking as you sit on the tarmac, worrying about permanent damage to your hearing. If you are tired of your ears feeling completely blocked every time you travel, it is not something you simply have to endure. Understanding how your ears react to cabin pressure, paired with a few specialist strategies, can completely transform your next journey. Anatomy and Path...
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