At Children’s Minnesota, our Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Facial Plastic Surgery program provides expert care for children with both common and complex head and neck conditions — from prenatal counseling and sophisticated airway surgery to cochlear implants and specialized audiology services — offering care from before birth through age 18.
Our pediatric otolaryngologists (pediatric ENT specialists) understand the delicate anatomy of growing ears, noses and throats, making us experts in facial plastic and reconstructive surgeries, including procedures for cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial differences.
Online scheduling is available for tonsil and adenoid consultations with our advanced practice providers at all five of our ENT locations.
Every one of our doctors completes more than five years of specialized ear, nose, and throat training, followed by advanced fellowship training focused on treating complex ENT conditions in children. Our advanced practice providers (APPs), audiologists, and speech-language pathologists are also specially trained to care for kids, supporting their hearing, speech and overall well-being with compassionate treatment.
Trusted by thousands of families: Our team sees over 15,000 patients each year — from hearing loss to rare craniofacial conditions. With decades of combined experience, we’re the most specialized pediatric ENT team in the Upper Midwest.
Here when you need us: Children’s Minnesota is the Twin Cities’ only freestanding children’s hospital with pediatric ENT specialists available 24/7 — for urgent breathing issues, facial trauma, complex head and neck infections and more.
Expert surgical care: We perform over 6,400 ENT surgeries each year and are verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons.
Care for complex conditions: We treat rare conditions like tracheal stenosis and thyroid disorders, bringing our specialists together for seamless diagnosis, surgery and follow-up care.
Innovating ENT care for kids worldwide: Many of today’s advanced ENT techniques were pioneered at Children’s Minnesota, thanks to our nationally recognized fellowship training program.
Specialized care for head and neck conditions: Our Head, Neck & Skull Base Tumors program is the only one of its kind in the region, created just for kids—with care that can begin even before they’re born.
Children’s Minnesota is a leader in clinical outcomes research in pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) care. Our studies help improve decision-making and lead to better health outcomes for the children we treat every day.
We’re committed to advancing care through ongoing research focused on conditions affecting the head and neck in children — driving innovation and compassionate treatments for kids locally and beyond.
There are many reasons to see an ENT specialist. If your child is experiencing common ENT issues — like ear infections, sinus infections, tonsillitis, nosebleeds, nasal congestion or loud snoring — it’s a good time to contact us to schedule an appointment with our team. Learn more about common ENT conditions we treat.
We want to make sure your child receives the best possible care. Here is what you can expect during your appointment:
A flexible nasopharyngoscope (scope) is a thin, flexible, noodle-like camera used in the clinic to examine the nasal cavity, throat, and larynx (voice box). It is often used to help diagnose breathing issues, swallowing problems, hoarseness, nasal polyps, and adenoid problems.
The procedure is quick (usually only a few minutes) and can be a little uncomfortable, but it is not typically painful. Not all children will need this during their visit. If it is needed, your ENT specialist will discuss it with you.
What to expect during the procedure
We want this experience to be as calm as possible for both you and your child. Here is a step-by-step look at how the specialist will perform the exam:
Tip: Bringing a favorite comfort toy or a tablet for a brief distraction can often help keep little ones occupied during these few minutes.
During a sleep study, your child works with one dedicated cardiopulmonary technologist (CPT) who monitors and responds to your child’s needs throughout the night. Watch our video about what you can expect during an overnight sleep study.
Every child’s care is unique. If surgery is recommended, your pediatric ENT specialist will explain why it’s needed, what to expect during the procedure and how recovery will go. Some surgeries, like ear tubes, take just minutes. Others, like microtia reconstruction or airway reconstruction, may take longer.
A day for our generous community to join together to ensure that even the tiniest hearts get the strongest possible start.
