Otolaryngology (ENT)
Stony Brook Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat) provides comprehensive and highly specialized care for all pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions.
We have an even more specialized focus on some of the most common ENT issues in children, including sleep apnea, airway problems and hearing problems.
Our division also excels at the management of congenital malformations of the head and neck. As a result, we have the largest comprehensive, multidisciplinary cleft lip and palate team, caring for the majority of Long Island’s population of children with cleft lip and cleft palate malformations.
Because pediatric ENT physicians deal with the communicative senses — interacting with children with how they interact with the world — we often serve as a hub for coordination of services, ensuring that every child receives individualized and seamless care across a wide spectrum of specialties. Even better, because this high level of care is available in their own community, Long Islanders no longer need to travel far for specialty pediatric ENT services.
Services
The pediatric ENT team specializes in diagnosing, treating and managing conditions of the ear, nose and throat for infants, children and teens. They treat everything from minor issues to chronic conditions, as well as perform surgery and long-term medical management for the most complex acquired and congenital disorders.
Diagnostics are typically performed surgically, although the team utilizes all of Stony Brook’s diagnostic expertise, including CT, MRI and ultrasound.
We also treat the full spectrum of hearing loss, and Dr. Schessel is the only surgeon on Long Island to perform cochlear implant surgery on children.
In addition, manufacturers often approach our team to evaluate new technology. This means that children have access to the latest equipment for diagnosis and treatment of airway problems six months to a year before it is available anywhere else.
Some of the most common ENT conditions treated at Stony Brook Children’s include:
- Allergies
- Bronchial cleft cysts
- Chronic ear infections
- Cochlear Implant
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Conditions associated with Down syndrome
- Congenital cysts
- Congenital malformations, including cleft lip and palate
- Facial paralysis
- Hearing loss (cochlear implants)
- Reflux
- Sinusitis
- Sleep apnea
- Speech and voice issues
- Thyroglossal duct cysts
- Thyroid cancer
- Vocal cord issues
Patients are typically followed by the pediatric ENT team until age 21, at which point, if they still need medical management, they are transitioned to an adult team at Stony Brook Medicine. This helps ensure a seamless delivery of services and highly coordinated care, providing families with the peace of mind knowing that all patient needs can be taken care of in one place.
Additionally, the pediatric ENT team connects children and families with appropriate support, including local chapters of national organizations and community-based groups.
Our Team
The pediatric ENT team works closely with many other Stony Brook Children’s divisions, including pediatric pulmonology, pediatric anesthesiology, the PICU, genetics, endocrinology and others as needed.
Locations
Commack Otolaryngology
500 Commack Road, Suite 104Commack, NY 11725
For consults and appointments: (631) 444-4121
For physicians: (631) 444-4929
Fax: (631) 444-7635
East Setauket Otolaryngology
37 Research WayEast Setauket, NY 11733
For consults and appointments: (631) 444-4121
For physicians: (631) 444-4929
Fax: (631) 444-7635
Research and Education
Research
As an academic medical institution, research is core to Stony Brook's mission because it helps to advance the practice of medicine and raises the standard of care in the community. Current projects in our division include two multicenter research studies on the treatment of draining ears.
Education
As a teaching hospital, Stony Brook Children’s takes pride in training the next generation of physicians. For patients and families, this means that Stony Brook remains on the leading edge of medicine, continually invigorating its program with fresh viewpoints, a lively exchange of ideas, and the region's next top doctors.
We provide a fully accredited five-year residency training program in ENT. This program is devoted to the task of educating and training physicians to function independently as specialists in the field of ENT. Our governing philosophy is to train physicians to be competent in all aspects of the specialty, placing patient care above all else.
Advances and Recognitions
All physicians in the ENT Division are board-certified or board-eligible. Some are double board-certified and fellowship-trained, which represents additional years of specialized training.
