ENT: Common Areas of Treatment and Service

UTMB Health’s Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants and the Center for Audiology & Speech Pathology have long been leaders in the healthcare industry. Our practice is championed by a faculty of driven physicians, who have trained at leading centers throughout the country and are now exercising their expertise on Galveston Island and at our mainland clinics in League City and Texas City.

Our physicians treat diseases and disorders of the ears, nose, throat, head, neck, and face, and their primary goal is to provide exemplary individualized care for our patients. Our surgeons provide care ranging from routine health maintenance and screening to intensive surgical management for neonates, children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric adults.

Below are some of our more common areas of treatment.

EARS

Conditions that impair ear function can be as minor as wax buildup or as serious as congenital & acquired deafness. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

• Adult and pediatric hearing loss
• Ear infections and ear pressure disorders
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Balance disorders

NOSE AND MOUTH

Congestion, allergies, a deviated septum, and mouth sores are just a few of the varied health problems that occur in this region of the body. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

• Sinus infections
• Nasal obstructions
• Disorders of smell
• Nosebleeds
• Pain in mouth
• Mouth sores or lesions

THROAT

Maladies of the throat can be a mere nuisance or a major ordeal. Tonsillitis, voice disorders, and even hoarseness all interfere with our ability to communicate. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:\

• Pain or difficulty swallowing
• Change in voice
• Noisy breathing
• Chronic cough
• Chronic infections

ALLERGIES

Millions of Americans suffer from nasal allergies, commonly known as hay fever. Often fragrant flowers are blamed for the uncomfortable symptoms, yet they are rarely the cause. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

• Sensitivity to pollens
• Sensitivity to foods
• Sensitivity to medications

VERTIGO/DIZZINESS

Feeling unsteady or dizzy can be caused by many factors such as poor circulation, inner ear disease, medication usage, injury, infection, allergies, and/or neurological disease. Dizziness is treatable, but it is important for your doctor to help you determine the cause so that the correct treatment is implemented. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Imbalance
• Inner ear disorders
• Unilateral vestibular dysfunction
• Bilateral vestibular dysfunction

SLEEP DISORDERS

Forty-five percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are habitual snorers. Snoring is also an indication of obstructed breathing. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly. An otolaryngologist can help you to determine where the encumbrance may be and offer solutions for this noisy and often embarrassing behavior. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

• Obstructed Breathing
• Snoring
• Sleep Apnea

THYROID AND PARATHYROID

The thyroid gland is one of the endocrine glands that makes hormones to regulate physiological functions in your body, like metabolism. Diseases of the thyroid gland are very common, affecting millions of Americans. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

• Thyroid and parathyroid abnormalities
• Thyroid cancers
• Goiters
• Hyperactive and hypoactive parathyroid

RECONSTRUCTIVE AND COSMETIC SURGERY

The range of conditions that otolaryngologists diagnose and treat are widely varied and can involve the whole face, nose, lips, ears, and neck. Facial plastic surgery is a component of otolaryngology that can be divided into two categories—reconstructive and cosmetic. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

Reconstructive
Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed for patients with conditions that may be present from birth. Some of these conditions include:

• Birthmarks on the face
• Cleft lip and palate
• Protruding ears
• Crooked smile

Other conditions that are the result of accidents, trauma, burns, or previous surgery are also corrected with this type of surgery. In addition, some reconstructive procedures are required to treat existing diseases like skin cancer and cancers of the head and neck.

Cosmetic
Cosmetic facial plastic surgery is surgery performed to enhance the visual appearance of the facial structures and features. Common conditions include:

• Aging face
• Aging eyelids
• Drooping Eyebrows
• Nasal deformity
• Chin and cheek contour deformities

HEAD AND NECK

The head and neck area encompasses organs with common disease.  These are often associated with common infections within these sites, but at times can also include more serious conditions such as cancers within this anatomical area. Our ENT physicians can evaluate and treat these problems which may include:

Skin
The skin of the head and neck is exposed to the elements more so than other areas of our body.  Conditions that may result from such exposures range from benign changes associated with the acceleration of aging to the development of skin cancers.

• Aging changes of the face, eyelids, and forehead
• Skin cancers
• Defects resulting from treatment of skin cancers
• Vascular lesions of the face/neck
  

Salivary Glands
The head and neck contains 6 major salivary glands.  Each of these can be afflicted with common conditions that include:

• Salivary gland stones
• Infections
• Benign and malignant tumors

Neck
The neck contains the richest network of lymph nodes in the human body.  Additionally, because of complex developmental pathways, selected congenital lesions can exist and present at any age, not only in children. 

Some of these conditions include:

• Lateral neck masses- branchial cleft cysts, benign or malignant enlarged lymph nodes, and infections
• Anterior neck masses- thyroglossal duct cysts, laryngeal cysts, benign or malignant lymph nodes
• Posterior neck masses- lipomas, benign or malignant lymph nodes

The ENT Clinics at UTMB Health guarantee availability within one week of appointment request or referral. To make an appointment with one of our ENT Physicians please call 281-338-0829.

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