ENT conditions (Mr Gaurav Kumar)

  Why Does My Child Hear Ringing or Buzzing in Their Ears? Tinnitus in Children Explained Your child suddenly says: “Mum, there is a ringing noise in my ear.” You listen. You cannot hear anything. They may describe a buzz, whistle, hum, hiss or perhaps something much more imaginative: “It sounds like bees.” “There is a fan inside my ear.” “I hear wind when the room is quiet.” For a parent, this can sound alarming. But children can experience tinnitus , just as adults can. Tinnitus means hearing a sound when there is no corresponding external sound producing it. The NHS describes tinnitus as hearing noises such as ringing, buzzing, whooshing, humming or hissing that do not come from an outside source. And importantly: Tinnitus does not automatically mean that something serious is wrong. Can children really get tinnitus? Yes. It is probably more common than many parents realise. Current NHS children's information from East Sussex reports research estimates suggest...

  My Child Suddenly Cannot Hear Properly in One Ear — What Should I Do? A child suddenly saying: “I can't hear out of this ear” can be surprisingly worrying. Sometimes they describe the ear as blocked. Sometimes sounds seem far away or “underwater”. An older child may notice the difference immediately when using headphones, while a younger child may simply turn their good ear towards you. In many children there is a relatively straightforward explanation, such as earwax, middle-ear fluid or an ear infection . But there is one important message parents should know: A genuinely sudden, unexplained reduction in hearing should not automatically be assumed to be wax or glue ear. Current NHS advice recommends urgent medical assessment when a child develops sudden hearing loss in one or both ears. Understanding the different types of hearing loss helps explain why. How does a child normally hear? Sound travels through three main areas. The outer ear collects sound and carrie...

  Auto-Inflation for Glue Ear in Children: A Parent’s Evidence Guide for London & Essex If your child has glue ear, you may have been told to wait and see whether it improves before considering treatments such as hearing aids or grommets. Understandably, many parents then search for another question: “Can we do anything at home to help the fluid clear?” One option you may come across is auto-inflation , sometimes using a purpose-designed nasal balloon. Parents across London, East London, Brentwood and Essex frequently want to know whether it really works, whether it is safe and whether it might help their child avoid an operation. Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon , advises that auto-inflation can be a useful option for selected children with otitis media with effusion, but it should be viewed as part of an overall hearing-management plan rather than as a guaranteed cure. What is glue ear? Glue ear is the everyday name for otitis media with effusion , or OME. It means fl...