Ear, nose & throat
Dr. Thompson, Dr. Bovenkerk and the staff of the LMSSAC collaborate to diagnose and treat ear, nose and throat problems for people of every age.
As a specialist in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, our doctors diagnose and treat disorders of the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck. They include chronic ear infection, sinusitis, snoring and sleep apnea, hearing loss, allergies and hay fever, swallowing disorders, nosebleeds, hoarseness, diseases of the parathyroid and thyroid glands, dizziness, head and neck cancer and skin lesions of the head and neck.
Ear infection
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In infants and toddlers, look for pulling or scratching at the ear, especially if accompanied by the following:
- Hearing problems
- Crying, irritability
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Ear drainage
- Earache
- Feeling of fullness or pressure
- Hearing problems
- Dizziness, loss of balance
- Nausea, vomiting
- Ear drainage
- Fever
Allergies and hay fever > top
Symptoms that may be caused by allergies are:
- Itching eyes
- Sneezing
- Nasal stuffiness
- Nasal congestion and drainage
- Headache
- Hearing changes
- Scratchy sore throat
- Hoarseness
- Cough
Some allergy sufferers experience symptoms all year. Others find certain seasons bring on attacks.
Swallowing disorders > top
Symptoms of swallowing disorders may include:
- Drooling
- A feeling that food or liquid is sticking in the throat
- Discomfort in the throat or chest (when gastroesophageal reflux is present)
- A sensation of a foreign body or “lump” in the throat
- Weight loss and inadequate nutrition due to prolonged or more significant problems with swallowing
- Coughing or choking caused by bits of food, liquid or saliva not passing easily during swallowing and being sucked into the lungs
Tonsils are the two masses on the back of the throat. Adenoids are high in the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth (soft palate) and are not visible through the mouth without special instruments. Tonsils and adenoids are near the entrance to the breathing passages where they can catch incoming germs, which cause infections.
Tonsillitis is an infection in one or both tonsils. One sign is swelling of the tonsils. Other signs or symptoms are:
- Redder than normal tonsils
- A white or yellow coating on the tonsils
- A slight voice change due to swelling
- Sore throat
- Uncomfortable or painful swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
- Fever
- Bad breath
- Breathing through the mouth instead of the nose most of the time
- Nose sounds "blocked" when the person speaks
- Noisy breathing during the day
- Recurrent infections of the ear, tonsil or sinus
- Snoring at night
- Breathing stops for a few seconds at night during snoring or loud breathing (sleep apnea)
There are two different types of nosebleeds:
- Anterior nosebleeds come from the front of the nose and begin with a flow of blood out one nostril when you are sitting or standing.
- Posterior nosebleeds begin high and deep within the nose and flow down the back of the mouth and throat even if you are sitting or standing.
- Allergies, infections or dryness that cause itching and lead to picking of the nose
- Vigorous nose blowing that ruptures superficial blood vessels in the elderly and in the young
- Clotting disorders that run in families or are due to medications
- Fractures of the nose or of the base of the skull that can cause bleeding and should be regarded seriously when the bleeding follows a head injury
- Rarely, tumors (both malignant and non-malignant), particularly in the older patient or in smokers
- Hypertension
Symptoms of hoarseness may include:
- Hoarseness lasting longer than two weeks, especially if you smoke
- Pain not from a cold or flu
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lump in the neck
- Loss or severe change in voice lasting longer than a few days
- Acid reflux, often with no heartburn
If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, unsteady or giddy, you could suffer from vertigo, which is frequently due to an inner ear problem.
Dizziness can be caused by:
- Ear disorders
- Poor circulation to the brain or inner ear
- Head injury
- Infection
- Allergy
- Neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, syphilis, tumors
- BBPV – Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Head and neck cancer > top
Symptoms of head and neck cancer include:
- A lump in the neck
- Change in the voice lasting more than two weeks
- A growth in the mouth that doesn't go away
- Bringing up blood in your saliva or phlegm for more than a few days
- Swallowing problems
- Changes in the skin such as a small, pale patch that enlarges slowly, producing a central "dimple" and eventually an ulcer; a sore on the lip, lower face or ear that does not heal; or a black or blue-black spot on the face or neck, particularly if it changes size or shape
- Persistent earache when you swallow
What to do > top
If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Bovenkerk to get an exact diagnosis of the cause. They, along with our staff, can examine your ears, nose and throat and order any necessary tests to determine the best course of treatment.
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