Ent and Allergy Specialists

Laryngomalacia Sometimes babies have noisy breathing. This can be due to congestion, or it can be a condition of the larynx called laryngomalacia. Laryngomalacia is a congenital softening of the tissues of the larynx, commonly known as the voice box, above the vocal cords. Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of raspy, noisy breathing in infancy. It happens when the structure of the larynx is floppy and malformed. This causes the tissues to fall over the airway, partially blocking it and creating noise when breathing. Tracheostomy A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure to create an opening through the neck into the trachea (windpipe). A tube is usually placed through this opening to provide an airway and to remove secretions from the lungs. This tube is called a tracheostomy tube or trach tube. Bronchoscopy A bronchoscopy is a test performed to view and diagnose problems in the bronchial tubes or related to lung disease. The procedure is performed using a bronchoscope, a device use...

  Cochlear implants bypass damaged hair cells and convert speech and environmental sounds into electrical signals and send these signals to the hearing nerve. The implant consists of a small electronic device, which is surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear and an external speech processor, which is usually worn on a belt or in a pocket. A microphone is also worn outside the body as a headpiece behind the ear to capture incoming sound. The speech processor translates the sound into distictive electrical signals. These 'codes' travel up a thin cable to the headpiece and are transmitted across the skin via radio waves to the implanted electrodes in the cochlea. The electrodes’ signals stimulate the auditory nerve fibers to send information to the brain where it is interpreted as meaningful sound. Cochlear implant benefits Implants are designed only for individuals who attain almost no benefit from a hearing aid. They must be 12 months of age or older (unless childhoo...

  The shape of your nasal cavity could be the cause of difficulty breathing through your nose or contributing to episodes of sinusitis. The nasal septum is the wall dividing the nasal cavity into halves; it is composed of a central supporting skeleton covered on each side by mucous membrane. The front portion of this natural partition is a firm, but bendable structure made mostly of cartilage and is covered by skin that has a substantial supply of blood vessels. The ideal nasal septum is exactly midline, separating the left and right sides of the nose into passageways of equal size. Estimates are that 80% of all nasal septum’s are off-center, a condition that is generally not noticed. A “deviated septum” occurs when the septum is shifted away from the midline. The most common symptom from a deviated or crooked septum is difficulty breathing through the nose. The symptoms are usually worse on one side, and sometimes actually occur on the side opposite the bend. In some cases, the cr...

  Thin Secretions: Increased thin clear secretions can be due to colds and flu, allergies, cold temperatures, bright lights, certain foods/spices, pregnancy, and other hormonal changes. Various drugs (including birth control pills and high blood pressure medications) and structural abnormalities can also produce increased secretions. These abnormalities might include a deviated or irregular nasal septum (the cartilage and bony dividing wall that separates the two nostrils). Thick Secretions: Increased thick secretions in the winter often result from dryness in heated buildings and homes. They can also result from sinus or nose infections and allergies, especially to foods such as dairy products. If thin secretions become thick, and turn green or yellow, it is likely that a bacterial sinus infection is developing. In children, thick secretions from one side of the nose can mean that something is stuck in the nose such as a bean, wadded paper, or piece of toy. If these symptoms are o...

Allergic rhinitis typically results from two conditions: family history/genetic predisposition to allergic disease and exposure to allergens. Allergens are substances that produce an allergic response. Children are not born with allergies but develop symptoms upon repeated exposure to environmental allergens. The earliest exposure is through food — and infants may develop eczema, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, and wheezing caused by one or more allergens (milk protein is the most common). Allergies can also contribute to repeated ear infections in children. In early childhood, indoor exposure to dust mites, animal dander, and mold spores may cause an allergic reaction, often lasting throughout the year. Outdoor allergens including pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds primarily cause seasonal symptoms. The number of patients with allergic rhinitis has increased in the past decade, especially in urban areas. Before adolescence, twice as many boys as girls are affected; however, aft...

Many patients wonder when they need to seek the assistance of a specialist. An ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor, or “otolaryngologist,” is a specialist who focuses on problems that impact these three areas. This may include anything from tonsillitis to swimmer’s ear. Otolaryngology is a medical specialty that pays close attention the neck up, helping patients who have conditions and disorders that impact these main areas. What does an ENT specialist do? Otolaryngologists are professionals who have not only attended and graduated from medical school, but have completed extra specialty training and passed certification examinations. They are experts in conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck, and focus primarily on these areas. Why is an ENT better than a primary care physician? Primary care physicians are doctors that have knowledge in a wide range of areas, but don’t specialize in any of them. An otolaryngologist is a doctor with specific training of the conditions that i...