Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) & Otolaryngology

Otolaryngologists are trained in both the medical and surgical treatment of hearing loss, ear infections, balance disorders, tinnitus, and facial or cranial nerve disorders.

Conditions Treated:

• Otitis externa - otherwise known as "Swimmer's Ear" this is an infection of the outer ear canal that goes from the eardrum to the outside of the head. It is often caused by water remaining in the ear after swimming.
• Otitis media - an infection of the air-filled area behind the eardrum.
• Middle ear effusion - occurs when fluid builds up in the space behind the eardrum.
• Cerumen impaction - earwax buildup and blockage.
• Hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo - evaluated and treated in coordination with audiology and vestibular therapy.

Procedures Performed:

• Tympanostomy tube placement - small tubes placed in the ear (often in children) to help drain the fluid out of the middle ear to reduce the risk of ear infections.
• Myringoplasty - surgically closing a perforation in the eardrum.

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common health complaints in America.  A primary skill of an Otolaryngologist is the care of the nasal cavity and sinuses. Management of the nasal area includes allergies and sense of smell.

Conditions Treated:

• Rhinitis - inflammation of the lining of the nose causing nasal congestion, nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, runny nose.
• Sinusitis - inflammation, or swelling, of the tissue lining the sinuses.
• Deviated septum - a condition where the nasal septum (the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half) is not centered, or crooked, which makes breathing difficult.
• Rhinorrhea - a thin and usually clear nasal discharge.
• Epistaxis - nosebleeds.
• CSF leaks - occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) escapes through a small tear or hole in the outermost layer of connective tissue. This can result in clear, watery drainage often from only one side of the nose or one ear when tilting the head forward.
• Sinonasal or skull base tumors - originate from one of the sinuses or can extend from the brain into the sinuses. Sinus and skull base tumors are relatively common.
• Nasopharyngeal cancer - a type of head and neck cancer.

Procedures Performed:

• Septoplasty - a corrective surgical procedure that straightens a deviated nasal septum which is the partition between the two nasal cavities.
• Turbinate reduction - a procedure where there is an obstruction in portions of the nose and airway that cause disorders such as sleep apnea, congestion, postnasal drip, and difficulty breathing.
• Endoscopic sinus surgery - remove blockages in the sinuses that cause pain, drainage, infections, impaired breathing or loss of smell.
• Nasal cauterization - a procedure that stops nosebleeds.
• CSF leak repair - surgery to repair cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that is leaking into the nose or ear.
• Removal of benign or malignant tumors within the nose or sinuses.
• Removal of pituitary tumors.
• Nasopharyngectomy - a form of endoscopic surgery to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The throat controls your ability to communicate, eat and breathe. Otolaryngologists specialize in managing diseases of the larynx (voice box) and the upper aero-digestive tract (esophagus), which includes voice and swallowing disorders.

Conditions Treated:

• Dysphonia - difficulty in speaking due to a disorder of the mouth, tongue, throat, or vocal cords.
• Dysphagia - trouble swallowing.
• Lesions of the throat or voicebox.
• Vocal cord abnormalities.

Procedures Performed:

• Biopsy or removal of lesions.
• Vocal cord injections.
• Speech and swallow studies in the office with a speech therapist.

Your head and neck contain important nerves that control sight, smell, and hearing. An Otolaryngologist is trained to treat infectious diseases, both benign and malignant (cancerous) tumors, facial trauma, and deformities of the face.

Conditions Treated:

• Neck mass or enlargement of cervical lymph nodes.
• Lesions of the skin, face or mouth.
• Head and neck cancer.

Procedures Performed:

• Lymph node biopsy.
• In office biopsy of superficial lesions.

While children face many of the same health problems that adults do, the symptoms and treatment options will vary—some methods that normally work well in adults may not be appropriate for children. Learn more about common pediatric ear, nose, throat, head and neck ailments to see if it's time to schedule your child with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.

Our Audiologists are experts who can help to prevent, diagnose, and treat hearing and balance disorders for people of all ages.

Audiologists provide professional and personalized services to improve persons' involvement in important activities in their lives and better their quality of life. Audiologists' services can help with managing issues effecting hearing and balance, including:

• Hearing Loss – Evaluate and treat hearing, balance, and tinnitus disorders.
• Dizziness and Balance – Evaluate and treat balance problems in coordination with therapists.
• Hearing Screening and Testing – Screen individuals to identify possible hearing disorders. Testing will confirm if a hearing loss is present and determine the kind and degree of loss.
• Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention – Explain how to protect hearing from the effects of noise.
• Tinnitus – Advise people about how to treat and cope with ringing in the ears.

Additional information about Audiology, the services that are offered, and Saint Alphonsus' Audiologist can be found here.

The vestibular therapy program at Saint Alphonsus is designed to help eliminate or reduce the symptoms caused by balance disorders, such as dizziness, spinning, light headedness, trouble focusing or reading, or loss of balance. Our therapists have advanced competencies and additional certifications and are experts in the fieldof balance and vestibular rehabilitation.

Vestibular therapy may include:

• Special maneuvers to help you reduce or end symptoms of dizziness.
• Compensatory techniques you can use to decrease symptoms of dizziness and imbalance while performing daily activities.
• Home exercises to improve function and independence.
• SMART Balance Master Training & Testing: Our therapists use this method to objectively measure balance performance, as well as retrain the sensory and muscle motor components of balance.