Ear, Nose and Throat

Our otolaryngology services

Our board-certified ENT specialists provide complete ear, nose, and throat services for patients of all ages. From diagnosis to medical and surgical treatment, we are committed to providing the highest quality care for all your ENT needs.

Our ENT doctors provide treatments for the following conditions and circumstances:

• Allergic rhinitis/hay fever: Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, mimics cold symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing. However, this condition is caused by an allergic reaction to allergens like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander — not by a virus. While it can disrupt daily life and activities, effective management includes avoiding triggers and finding appropriate treatment.
• Ear infection: An ear infection is an infection in the middle ear behind the eardrum. Treatment typically involves pain management and observation, with antibiotics used for persistent cases. Frequent ear infections can lead to hearing issues and other complications. Because ear infections often clear up on their own, treatment may begin with managing pain and monitoring the problem. Sometimes, antibiotics are used to clear the infection. Some people are prone to having multiple ear infections. This can cause hearing problems and other serious complications.
• Ear plastic surgery: Ear plastic surgery, or otoplasty, corrects various ear deformities such as underdevelopment, protrusion, drooping, or poorly formed cartilage. A partially formed ear is often seen in conditions like microtia (partially formed exterior ear) or anotia (undeveloped ear). Ear surgery is also effective for traumatic deformities. These procedures do not alter the patient’s hearing, but they can improve appearance. 
• Ear tubes: Many ear infections resolve without intervention, but recurrent or chronic cases, potentially leading to hearing loss and speech issues, may require antibiotics or ear tube insertion by an ENT specialist. Ear tubes, also known as tympanostomy or myringotomy tubes, offer short- or long-term solutions that help ventilate the middle ear and prevent further infections. Short-term tubes are smaller and typically stay in place for six months to two years before falling out on their own. Long-term tubes are larger and have flanges that secure them in place for a longer period of time. Long-term tubes may fall out on their own, but removal by an otolaryngologist may be necessary.
• Hearing loss: Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is common, affecting about one-third of Americans between 65 and 75 and half of those over 75. Hearing loss can be conductive (involving the outer or middle ear), sensorineural (involving the inner ear), or a mix of both. Hearing loss is often due to aging or chronic exposure to loud noises. While most hearing loss is irreversible, treatments and strategies can help improve hearing capabilities.
• Nasal congestion (stuffy nose): Nasal congestion, or a “stuffy nose,” is caused by swollen nasal tissues and blood vessels, and may include a runny nose. While generally a minor annoyance in adults and older children, it can be more problematic for infants who may struggle with feeding, and for children whose sleep is disrupted by the congestion. 
• Nasal obstruction: Nasal obstruction encompasses anything which hinders airflow in one or both nasal passages, and can be caused by a number of factors, such as a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, polyps, or swelling of nasal tissue. These conditions can sometimes lead to sleep disorders, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea. We offer a range of treatments for nasal obstruction, from at-home remedies to surgical options.
• Nasal polyps: Nasal polyps are noncancerous, painless growths in the nasal passages or sinuses, often resulting from chronic inflammation linked to asthma, allergies, or infections. While small polyps might not cause symptoms, larger ones can block nasal passages, leading to breathing issues and loss of smell. Treatment usually involves medication, but surgery may be necessary for larger polyps.
• Nose injuries: Nose injuries can range from minor issues like nosebleeds and bruising to more severe cases like broken bones or damage to the nasal septum. Commonly occurring during sports, accidents, or falls, these injuries can cause pain and swelling, often treatable with home remedies. However, distinguishing a broken nose from a swollen one can be challenging, sometimes necessitating tests like X-rays or CT scans.
• Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea: Snoring and sleep apnea are caused by the development of resistance to airflow in the upper airways during sleep. Snoring can be treated with laser assisted uvuloplasty, injection snoreplasty, or radiofrequency palatoplasty. Inspire Sleep Apnea Innovation is another treatment option that addresses the root causes of sleep apnea using small electrical pulses.
• Throat pain: The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection. Strep throat is a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, and it requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications.
• Tinnitus: Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. This condition is common, affecting 15-20% of people. Tinnitus isn’t a condition, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury, or a circulatory system disorder. Our treatments include addressing the root cause of your tinnitus, as well as helping you find ways to mask or reduce the ringing in your ears.
• Tonsillitis: Symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and tender lymph nodes. Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by infection, but bacterial infections are possible too.
• Vertigo: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of vertigo, characterized by brief, intense episodes of dizziness often triggered by specific head movements. While BPPV can be disruptive, it’s generally not serious but does increase fall risk, and can be effectively treated during a doctor’s visit.

To learn more about our otolaryngology services, please call 903-676-3316.

Voice and swallowing disorder care

At UT Health East Texas, our ENT specialists are committed to providing extensive care for voice and swallowing disorders, including conditions like hoarse, scratchy voices and dysphagia.

Hoarseness, often accompanied by a dry or scratchy throat, is a frequent voice issue where the voice may sound raspy, weak, or airy, indicating a problem with the vocal cords, often due to laryngitis, an inflammation of the larynx (voice box). If hoarseness persists for over 10 days, it’s important to seek medical evaluation, as it could signify a more serious condition.

Swallowing disorders, or dysphagia, are also a key focus of our care. Swallowing is a complex function that can change with age, affecting the tongue, pharynx (upper throat), larynx (voice box), and esophagus (lower throat).

Our team, including doctors and speech-language pathologists specializing in swallowing disorders, is dedicated to understanding both normal and abnormal age-related changes in swallowing. This expertise allows us to provide targeted and effective treatment strategies for our patients.

When you have difficulty swallowing, you may be experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty chewing
• Increased effort to move food and liquids from the mouth into the upper throat (pharynx)
• Increased effort or resistance moving food from the upper throat (pharynx) into the lower throat (esophagus)
• Food or pills getting stuck
• Regurgitation of food (can be right away with swallowing or delayed)
• Coughing and/or choking with eating and drinking
• Recurrent lung infections
• Weight loss due to food avoidance

Please call us to learn more about our voice and swallowing disorder treatments.

Audiology services

At UT Health, our skilled audiologists are dedicated to providing top-tier hearing services for individuals of all ages. 

Our services for pediatric patients includes:

• Aural rehabilitation
• Hearing evaluations and testing for children
• Infant hearing screening and intervention

Our services for adult patients includes hearing evaluations and vestibular intervention. From diagnosis to fitting you with the right hearing aids our mission is to provide the highest quality care your  needs.

Hearing aids

Hearing loss is a common challenge, with nine out of 10 patients experiencing sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. In these cases, hearing aids are often a crucial part of the treatment plan. 

Our team understands that choosing the right hearing aid is about more than just improving hearing; it’s about finding a balance between your specific hearing requirements, your lifestyle, cosmetic preferences, and budget considerations. There is a vast array of hearing aid options available, and we’re committed to helping you navigate these choices to find the perfect match for your individual needs.

Our approach to hearing aid pricing is both transparent and user-friendly, adopting an “unbundled” model. This means you clearly understand what you’re paying for. Our price includes the cost of the hearing aid device(s), the initial month of professional services, and the first set of supplies. After this adjustment period, you have the flexibility to pay for services and supplies as you use them, or opt for an additional service plan, based on what works best for you. With prices ranging from $1,500 to $3,600 and multiple levels of technology, our selection is designed to cater to a variety of preferences and requirements. We carry diverse brands, ensuring that you find a hearing aid that feels right for you.

To delve deeper into our hearing services and explore how we can assist you, we encourage you to schedule a consultation.

Speech pathology services

We offer a wide range of speech therapy services for children and adults.

Our pediatric speech therapy services include:

• Alternative and augmentative communication: Provides low- and high-tech devices to help supplement verbal communication.
• Articulation therapy: Addresses mispronunciation of sounds.
• Feeding and swallowing therapy: Available for both infants and older children.
• Fluency therapy: Helps children who stutter.
• Language therapy: Supports children with language impairments.
• Social communication training: Designed for patients with autism spectrum disorder.
• Voice therapy: Treats hoarse or strained voices.

Our adult speech therapy services include:

• Aphasia therapy: Assisting adults in recovering language skills after a stroke or brain trauma.
• Cognitive-communication therapy: Helping with communication challenges related to cognitive impairments.
• Dysphagia therapy: Providing exercises and education about swallowing disorders.
• Fluency therapy: Supporting adults with stuttering issues.
• Gender-affirming voice treatment: Modifying verbal and nonverbal behaviors for more harmonious gender expression and presentation.
• Voice therapy: Managing voice disorders, including hoarseness and strained vocal quality.

Please call us to learn more about our speech pathology treatments.

Head and neck surgery

Our ENT specialists are adept at treating a range of conditions, including head and neck cancers, thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

Head and neck cancer can affect various areas like the tongue, throat, and larynx. While historically linked to smoking, its incidence in nonsmokers is rising. Our team also addresses skin cancer on the face and head, employing plastic surgery techniques for removal to achieve the best cosmetic outcomes.

Concerning the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland at the neck’s base, our care extends to managing its vital role in metabolism, temperature regulation, and organ function. We treat conditions such:

• Goiters: An enlargement of the thyroid gland. It can develop in one or both sides of the thyroid gland.
• Thyroid cancer: This type of cancer is particularly prevalent in women.
• Thyroid nodules: Areas of abnormal growth within the thyroid gland. Some people have a single nodule while others have multiple nodules within the gland.

Our approach is comprehensive, addressing each condition with the utmost care and precision.

---