ENT

It is a surgically implanted electronic device that is used by people who receive minimal or no benefit from conventional hearing aid. Often referred to as bionic ear, it works using special technologies to take place of non-working parts in the ear. It is capable of converting sound to electronic signal, which stimulates the 8th nerve.

Cochlear implants provide a heightened sense of sound to adults and children with profound hearing loss. The implants bypass the damaged hair cells in the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve to send information to the nerve. These are not responsible for restoring or creating new hearing.

The major causes of nasal obstruction are as follows.

• Acute Sinusitis(sinus infection)
• Allergies
• Common cold
• Decongestion nasal spray overuse
• Deviated septum
• Dry air
• Stress
• Medications like high blood pressure drugs

Tonsillectomy refers to the procedure in which the tonsils are removed. There are several ways to remove the tonsils the most common method being “cold knife (steel) dissection”. This technique involves the surgeon removing the tonsils with the help of a scalpel (sharp bladed instrument). Another common method used is “cauterization”. In this method, the tonsil tissues are completely burnt away. Other methods include the use of ultrasound to treat tonsils as well.

Sinusitis is a common condition where cavities around the nasal passage become inflamed and swollen. There are several causes for sinusitis. Some of the causes are mentioned below.

• Nasal obstruction causing difficulty in breathing
• Pain, tenderness around eyes, cheeks, nose.
• Reduced sense of smell and taste
• Cough that might worsen in the night
• Sore throat

Sinus surgery may be done when complications of sinusitis have occurred. Once sinusitis is diagnosed, the first step is to get it checked by a primary doctor. If the inflammation hasn’t reduced within 3 months, it is considered chronic sinusitis. In the chronic sinusitis, the ENT doctor might suggest surgery in the sinus area. Hence, sinus surgery is not necessary in all cases unless the matter is severe.

There are surgeries performed which have an unexpected effect on the voice. Almost all surgical will have a direct or indirect on the voice. Thus it is important to consider voice related side effects before undergoing any surgical procedure. Some surgeries which affect the voice are.

• Sinusitis
• Thyroid surgery
• Cervical spine surgery

Infection of the sinus cavities often occurs due to inflammation and obstruction of the sinus drainage pathways. Typical symptoms of a sinus infection include facial pain and pressure, nasal obstruction, yellow or green nasal drainage, fatigue and fever. Treatment of a sinus infection may include nasal decongestants and antibiotics. People with chronic sinus drainage may benefit from endoscopic sinus surgery.

The nasal turbinates are three bony and soft-tissue structures lining the sides of the nasal cavity. As part of the normal nasal cycle, the turbinates alternately swell and enlarge. In some persons, the turbinates can be excessively large, resulting in significant nasal obstruction. Allergy treatment, typically with nasal steroid sprays, may help to decrease this swelling. When allergy management does sufficiently relieve nasal obstruction, the inferior turbinates can be surgically reduced. In many cases this can be done as an office procedure.

Snoring typically is caused by vibration of tissues within the oral pharynx (the uvula and palate). Nasal obstruction can be another cause. In mild snoring, these measures may help: losing weight, sleeping on your side rather than your back, avoiding sedatives and alcohol. Surgery can reduce the size of the soft tissue of uvula and palate, and also relieve nasal obstruction. The PAMF Department of Otolaryngology uses a carbon dioxide laser to remove excess uvular and palatal soft tissue, an office procedure using local anesthesia. Office turbinate surgery may also help snoring by improving nasal breathing.

Sleep apnea is quite common but most people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it until someone else witnesses it and tells them. Sleep apnea causes a person to take shallow breaths or even pause while breathing during sleep. The breathing pauses can last only a few seconds but can go on for minutes. Sleep apnea patients usually snore and they sometimes make a loud snort sound during the episode. They often suffer from daytime sleepiness because their sleep is interrupted even if the snoring and the breathing pauses don’t actually wake them up. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. In this condition, the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. This causes shallow breathing or breathing pauses.