Caring for the Senses to Support Children's Development

Hear, smell, taste. These senses impact and shape children's everyday lives. Diego Preciado, MD, PhD, chief of Otolaryngology and Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology, aims to set the gold standard for care of a child's ear, nose and throat (ENT) — pathways to the senses. “We treat the senses that drive an individual’s personality,” he says. “ENT care has seen wonderful advances in the last 30 years, but there is still more work to do. That’s why I entered the field.”

Dr. Preciado is an innovator. His team, at the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, helped to advance early detection and treatment of otolaryngology disorders, such as hearing loss, the most common sensory impairment in children. Four in every 1,000 infants are born with it.

In the laboratory, the team uncovered fundamental molecular aspects of chronic ear disease. This led to the development of new medications aimed at reducing the need for surgery. The team and collaborators are developing a drug delivery method, using liposomal nanoparticles — spherical vesicles that are insoluble in water — to carry treatments directly into the ear canal. It could potentially eliminate the need for oral antibiotics and surgery in children with recurrent ear infections. The team also developed an app to guide patients through critical aspects of ENT care. It will help kids with hearing impairments in language development after cochlear implantation.

Dr. Preciado's team works across Children's National Hospital and with parent groups in our community to remove barriers to ENT care. "All care is not equal," he says. "Sadly, families with public or no health insurance typically only receive care at a much later date. This delay often permanently impacts their children's hearing, speech and social skills."