Comprehensive ENT services for patients of all ages.
ENT Services Overview
Visiting an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor might sound daunting. However, by learning about the services our professionals provide at Family Ear, Nose & Throat, you’ll discover that an appointment with us is the first step in the journey to a healthier life.
We treat many types of symptoms, finding the root cause and providing a care option that will help you. Common reasons you may choose to visit an ENT include:
- Lump in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in the skin
- Persistent earache
- Chronic sinusitis
- Deviated septum
- Loss of smell
- Hearing problems
- Sleep apnea
Our Services
Ear Infection
There are three basic classifications of ear infections: middle, inner, and outer. All types of ear infections can be successfully treated in one of our offices.
It is more common for children to suffer from ear infections than adults. This is partially because children’s immune systems are still developing and are not as equipped to fight off infections. It’s also because the eustachian tube, which is angled downward in most adults, runs more straight in children. Resulting in more fluid trapped in the middle ear.
Hearing Test
If you are having a hard time hearing high-pitched or soft sounds, or it is difficult to hear when there is background noise, then you may benefit from a hearing test. Our experienced team includes certified audiologists who can test your hearing and examine your ears for any problems.
A hearing test will allow us to diagnose any signs of hearing loss, its severity, the cause of the problem, and will help us find a treatment option. We offer the following hearing tests:
• Pure Tone Audiometry
• Speech Audiometry
• Tympanometry
• Auditory Function Tests
• Bone Conduction Test
• Auditory Brainstem Response
• Otoacoustic Emissions
• Electrocochleography
• Central Auditory Processing Evaluation
Ear Cleaning
Cerumen, better known as earwax, is a natural oily substance produced by glands in your ear canal. It keeps the canal clean and protects it from foreign substances such as dust, microorganisms, and water. If earwax accumulates in large quantities, it may cause hearing loss, pain, or a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Attempting to remove earwax with a cotton swab could impact it further into your ear canal and up against your eardrum. Earwax that is left in the ear canal for a long time can become infected by bacteria or fungal microorganisms. In this case, we can remove excess wax and treat any external ear infection that may have developed. Some forms of earwax can easily be removed with a special tool, while other forms may require water irrigation.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus, commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” affects millions of Americans. Tinnitus occurs when a constant sound seems to originate in your ear or head. Tinnitus can present itself as ringing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, or something else along those lines.
People often report that their symptoms sound louder when the environment is quieter (e.g., when getting ready for bed at night). Occasional, short-lasting ringing is normal, but if tinnitus occurs frequently or continuously, or if it occurs in only one ear, a consultation is warrantied.
Tinnitus can be caused by many factors, a few include:
• Hearing loss and other ear disorders
• Ear infections
• Meniere’s disease
• Vascular problems in the face or neck
• Certain medications
• Head or ear injury
• Stress
• Loud noise exposure
Vertigo
Vertigo is a type of dizziness where you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning. Typically, along with a spinning sensation, you may also experience a headache, ringing in the ears, involuntary eye movement, loss of balance, or disorientation. Vertigo can occur suddenly and the symptoms may last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.
There are two types of vertigo. Peripheral vertigo develops when there is a problem in your inner ear or with the vestibular nerve. This may happen due to an infection, an inflamed nerve, or Meniere’s disease. Central vertigo originates in the central nervous system when an illness or injury affects the part of your brain that regulates balance.
Problems that can cause central vertigo include:
• Migraine
• Stroke
• Tumors
• Concussion
• Multiple sclerosis
• Certain medications
Problems with Balance
About 15% of the population experiences dizziness. Of these cases, the majority are caused by otologic disorders. To determine the cause of dizziness and the best treatment option for each specific patient, different evaluations are available, including:
• Electronystagmography (ENG)
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
• Electrocochleography (ECochG)
• Repositioning Maneuvers
Sinusitis
When your sinuses are blocked or inflamed, you may be in pain, have trouble breathing, and experience other symptoms that lower your quality of life. If you’re one of 37 million Americans with sinusitis, our expert ENT specialists can help you find relief.
Symptoms of sinusitis include:
• Pain or pressure in your face
• Stuffed, blocked, or runny nose
• Coughing or congestion
• Loss of sense of smell
• Fever
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Dental pain
Deviated Septum
If you experience nasal congestion, frequent nosebleeds, or postnasal drips, then you may have a deviated septum. A deviated septum can make it difficult for you to breathe correctly, particularly when you have an upper respiratory infection such as a cold or sinus infection.
Symptoms of a deviated septum include:
• Snoring
• Facial pain
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Difficulty sleeping
Post-Nasal Drip
Postnasal drip is annoying and can lead to other issues. Postnasal drip is a condition where mucus keeps trickling down your throat. Although postnasal drip isn’t a serious problem, it can be annoying and can even cause you to experience:
• Nausea
• Sore throat
• Bad breath
• Chronic cough
Postnasal drip is incredibly common, and is often caused by upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, or a deviated septum. Other potential causes of postnasal drip include dry environments, pregnancy, eating spicy foods, and weather changes.
Rhinoplasty
At Family Ear, Nose & Throat, we can perform a rhinoplasty surgery (nose job) to improve both appearance and functionality of your nose. Patients of any age can have a rhinoplasty as long as their nose has finished growing. For girls, the minimum age is 14-15 and for boys around 17-18.
Through rhinoplasty we can correct most cosmetic problems with your nose, including:
• Overlarge nose
• Large nasal tip
• Bulbous or pushed-in nose tip
• Hooked or beaked nose
• Bumps or depressions on your nasal bridge
• Uneven, flared, or overlarge nostrils
Thyroidectomy
If you have a hyperactive thyroid gland or goiter that is not responding to medication, you may need a thyroidectomy. A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part of or all of your thyroid gland.
Common conditions that may require a thyroidectomy include:
• Hyperthyroidism
• Goiter
• Thyroid nodules
• Thyroid cancer
Tonsil Stones
The tonsils are a useful part of our immune system, but they can be the source of throat problems such as tonsil stones. Tonsil stones form when dead cells, mucus, bits of debris, and bacteria collect in the tissues around your tonsils.
If your tonsil stones do become symptomatic, you may have:
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Trouble swallowing
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Ear pain
• Swollen tonsils
If your tonsil stones are causing you discomfort and other issues, you do have a few options for treatment:
• Cryptolysis
• Surgical Removal
• Tonsillectomy
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a problem that causes you to stop breathing for short periods when you’re asleep. Sleep apnea can be diagnosed by monitoring you while you sleep and counting how many times you stop or almost stop breathing. Sleep apnea often causes you to snore and can lead to symptoms like extreme fatigue.
Common symptoms that may not be obvious of sleep apnea include:
• Dry mouth
• Headaches in the mornings
• Excessive daytime drowsiness
• Problems concentrating
• Restless sleep
• Waking up gasping for breath
Snoring
The sound of snoring is caused by the vibrations when air collides with the tissues of the mouth and nose. Allergies, illness, alcohol, and weight gain can sometimes cause snoring. However, if snoring becomes very loud, interferes with sleep, or becomes bothersome to your partner, it may be time to see us at Family Ear, Nose & Throat.
Because snoring can be due to sleep apnea, we may recommend a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea.
Allergies
Allergies to pollen, dust, mold, and animal dander can cause persistent symptoms such as water eyes, runny nose, cough, blocked nose, and wheezing that can have a significant impact on your daily life.
The most common allergens that cause respiratory symptoms include:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Pet dander
Allergy Shots and Drops
Immunotherapy shots and drops contain minute quantities of the substance you are allergic to. Regular, frequent exposure to these tiny amounts of the allergen enables your body to become accustomed to them and to recognize them as non-threatening.
Skin Cancer
Changes in a mole or the appearance of a new lesion should never be ignored as some forms can be cancerous. If you spot a suspicious area of the skin, or a concerning new mole, we can help. Skin cancer is a result of mutations in the cells that make up your skin. Skin cancer often affects the areas of the face and neck, as well as the lips and ears.
There are a few types of skin cancer:
• Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Melanoma
Pediatric ENT
At Family Ear, Nose and Throat, we treat patients of all ages, including children. Young children and adolescents are more likely to have problems such as tonsilitis and ear infections, as well as other ear, nose, and throat problems.
Some common conditions that affect children include:
- Tonsilitis
- Ear infections
- Perforated eardrums
- Sinusitis
- Allergies
- Adenoiditis
- Cleft lip and palate
- Epistaxis (nose bleeds)
- Hearing loss
- Tongue-tie
If your child has a chronic or severe ear, nose, or throat condition, the ENT specialists at Family Ear, Nose & Throat can help.