Whether your little one’s got an earache from an infection, constant snoring, or trouble with the airways, these conditions of the ear, nose, neck, and throat can be an instant source of anxiety and discomfort. And, since children and kids can’t always put their finger on how they feel, you can’t always rely on them to tell you what’s going on. Foreign bodies in the ear canal or nose can also cause pain and discomfort.
Luckily for families here in Singapore, Dr Barrie Tan is one of the best paediatric ENTs. He offers a personal commitment to compassionate, child-friendly medical care for a diverse range of ear, nose, and throat problems, as well as many common paediatric ENT conditions. As an ENT doctor, he’s dedicated to providing families with clear, actionable answers and treatment plans that deliver comprehensive care for children’s ear, nose, and throat issues.
Dr Tan brings a wealth of experience to the table, having worked at both the Singapore General Hospital and his private practice at Gleneagles Medical Centre. What sets us apart is Dr Tan’s calm, reassuring demeanour. Even the most anxious kids and their parents tend to feel more at ease with him. His approach is refreshingly simple: he ensures a proper diagnosis every time, manages things as conservatively as possible, and intervenes with treatment only when needed. And, when he does, you can be assured it’s safe, practical and effective. Our children’s ENT centre prioritises your child’s well-being.
This condition occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum in the middle ear without infection, leading to muffled hearing, hearing loss, and, if it persists, speech or learning problems in children. Speech therapists may assist with language development if hearing loss affects communication. Children’s ear health is our priority.
A grommet tube that has been in the eardrum longer than it should may need to be removed to prevent infection or perforation at our ENT clinic.
When the Eustachian tube, which is supposed to equalise pressure between the ear canal and the nose, just doesn’t open properly, it can cause ear blockage, discomfort, pain, or recurrent middle ear fluid. This can affect hearing and cause ringing in the ears.
This is an infected skin pit near the ear that can become swollen, painful, and discharge pus, causing discomfort.
Allergic rhinitis and these conditions can lead to chronic congestion. Enlarged tissue is a major contributor to nasal blockage, sinus issues, and sleep issues. Epistaxis (or recurrent nosebleeds) is another common concern in school-aged kids. Sinus allergies require proper treatment.
Paediatric nosebleeds are recurrent nosebleeds in kids, often caused by nasal dryness, irritation or fragile blood vessels at the front of the nose. Our ENT specialist can treat and assist with management.
Usually reactive, but it is worth having our doctors take a look to rule out infection, fever, or other causes requiring head and neck surgery or neck surgery. Our head and neck specialists can assist with diagnosis.
Enlarged adenoids can block the nasal airway, leading to mouth breathing, snoring, recurrent ear infections, middle ear issues, and sleep disturbance in kids.
Enlarged tonsils can obstruct the throat, contributing to snoring, sleep-disordered breathing, difficulty swallowing, and recurrent throat infections such as tonsillitis and strep throat. Hypertrophy is sometimes associated with paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea. Treatment may include antibiotics or surgery.
Paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious condition where a child’s breathing partially or completely stops repeatedly during sleep, often due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids or obesity.
Sleep-disordered breathing in kids often occurs when the airway narrows due to enlarged tonsils, disrupting sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea should be ruled out.
Symptoms to Watch For in Children
ENT problems in kids don’t always present cleanly. Toddlers might grab their ears, get cranky, have a fever or pain, or have poor sleep. Preschoolers may show up with delayed speech or inattentiveness due to hearing difficulties, hearing loss, and ringing in the ears, and older kids may complain of blocked ears, frequent sore throats, headaches, or persistent nasal congestion, sinus problems and sinusitis.
Snoring, airway issues, recurrent infections with frequent episodes, frequent nosebleeds, or changes in hearing are all red flags that warrant an assessment by a specialist near you. Early evaluation by an ENT doctor can help prevent learning difficulties, behavioural issues, or long-term hearing damage and hearing loss. Parents should seek treatment early if symptoms persist.
Dr Tan takes a gentle approach to diagnosing kids at his ENT surgery centre, one that’s easy for them to understand and family-centred. He makes sure the consultation is comforting for the child and clear to their parents.
Our specialist for paediatric cases will perform otoscopy, nasal assessment, and throat examination, and may order additional tests, such as tympanometry or a hearing test, as needed. Our paediatric ENT doctor ensures a thorough evaluation.
Dr Tan uses imaging or additional tests only when necessary, so the tests he uses are appropriate for each child. Our children’s ENT clinic provides comprehensive diagnostic services.
Most kids with ENT issues improve with conservative management, personalised care, and treatment. This can mean getting treatment for the underlying allergy, an infection, or inflammation, or watching and waiting for things to resolve. Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial infections causing discomfort and fever.
Dr Tan is always keen to work with parents and families to determine the best course of action. He’ll talk through what you can expect and what to look out for in terms of symptoms that might need some extra attention. Speech therapists may assist with communication if hearing is affected.
When surgery is the best option, Dr Barrie Tan, with more than 20 years of paediatric otolaryngology experience, will help you choose the safest and most appropriate procedure for each child and answer any questions you may have.
Often, this means a quick day surgery, such as myringotomy with grommet insertion for persistent middle ear fluid or an adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy to sort out an airway obstruction affecting sleep. Sometimes, head and neck surgery, including the excision of an infected sinus, is needed, but that’s usually a bit more involved.
These operations and surgery procedures are straightforward, and usually the kids and patients can go home the same day and get back to normal quickly. Our paediatric otolaryngology team provides comprehensive care for children and adults alike.
When to See a Paediatric Specialist
Consult a paediatric specialist if your child experiences frequent ear infections (over 3 in 6 months), persistent snoring/mouth breathing, speech delays, hearing issues, chronic nasal congestion/sinus pain, or difficulty swallowing. These symptoms are not typical childhood ailments and may indicate underlying problems affecting development and quality of life.
If you’re worried about your kid’s ear, nose, throat, and head and neck issues, and you’re researching an experienced ENT near you, an early assessment with Dr Barrie Tan can make a real difference. Get in touch with our children’s ENT centre to receive care from one of Singapore’s best paediatric specialists and book an appointment at our clinic.
Parents choose Dr Barrie Tan as a leading ENT doctor for children in Singapore because they trust his experience. His background in tertiary hospital work at the National University, and his access to all the latest facilities at Gleneagles Hospital through his ENT centre and clinic, make families feel confident their kid is getting top-notch care.
Our ENT clinic treats ear infections, allergies, sinusitis, hearing loss, throat conditions, and more.
You can trust that Dr Tan and our ENT team will provide your kid with the best possible treatment and care for all ear, nose, and throat conditions in Singapore.
Senior Consultant ENT Specialist
MBBS (Singapore), MMed (ENT) (Singapore)
MRCS (Edinburgh, UK), FAMS (Otolaryngology)
Dr Barrie Tan is a dedicated ENT specialist with over 20 years of experience and a keen focus on hearing loss and cochlear implants, among others. Prior to setting up his own practice, Dr Tan was the Head of the ENT Department at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) – the largest ENT department in Singapore – as well as the Director of the Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants at SGH.
Dr Tan was a President’s Scholar and completed his subspeciality Fellowship in Otology, Hearing Implant, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at the Ear Science Institute in Australia. Today, Dr Tan remains actively involved in the ENT fraternity, holding several leadership positions and being engaged in the nurturing of the next generation of ENT surgeons. He has organized numerous ENT conferences and continues to devote his time towards meaningful volunteer work and medical missions.
