Our Services

What is an ENT?

Ear, nose, and throat doctors are clinically known as otolaryngologists. At The ENT & Allergy Centers of Texas, our  doctors specialize in the treatment and management of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related bodily structures. 

Our team deals with hearing and balance, sinus and allergy, sleep and breathing, and speech and swallowing. 

When should I see an ENT doctor?

Otolaryngology is a wide-ranging medical specialty focused on health problems in the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. Many times, a general practitioner will be the first to recommend seeing a specialist for a condition involving these areas. Plus, since ENT doctors, such as the team at The ENT & Allergy Centers of Texas, specialize in both medicine and surgery, if surgery is necessary the patient does not need to be referred elsewhere. 

What conditions do ENT doctors treat?

Pretty much anything involving the ears, nose, throat, and conditions that stem from those areas is within the scope and expertise of our doctors at The ENT & Allergy Centers of Texas. These can be as simply as treating an ear infection or as complex as skull base surgery. Here is a scope of conditions we deal with, although this list is far from complete:

• Ear (otology/neurotology) — Ear infections; hearing loss; inner ear damage, balance, dizziness; ringing in the ears (tinnitus); ear, face, or neck pain

• Nose (rhinology) — Rhinitis, sinusitis, sinus headaches, migraines, deviated septum, nasal obstruction, nasal surgery, allergies

• Throat (laryngology) — Vocal cord disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) sore throat, hoarseness, throat tumors, airway disorders

• Head and Neck/Thyroid — Cancers of the head and neck, neck masses, Grave’s disease, enlarged thyroid glands, pituitary gland tumors, salivary disorders

• Sleep — Sleep apnea, nasal and airway obstruction, snoring, sleep-disordered breathing

• Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery — Cleft palates, drooping eyelids, ear deformities, facial paralysis, trauma, and cancer reconstruction

• Pediatrics — Birth defects of the head and neck, developmental delays, ear infection, tonsil and adenoid infection, airway problems, asthma, allergies

How do I choose an ENT doctor?

As with all doctors, these are personal decisions, but there are some general tips for choosing the correct ENT to fit your needs. 

• Get referrals — Ask your primary care physician, family, friends, and other healthcare providers for referrals. 

• Research the credentials — Look for board certification, as this details a higher level of training, skill, and experience. 

• Consider experience — Does the ENT doctor have subspecialty training in the area of your diagnosis? How many patients have he or she treated/operated on for this condition? What have been the complication rates?

• Communication style — Is your potential ENT doctor engaged and intent on answering all of your questions? Do you feel comfortable with the potential doctor?

• Surgical facilities — If surgery may be necessary, are the facilities the state-of-the-art? What are the accreditations? What about new technology?

• Insurance coverage — Of course, you need to be sure your potential ENT doctor is covered under your insurance plan.

What happens during a typical ENT visit?

At The ENT & Allergy Centers of Texas, we have 11 Board-Certified Otolaryngologists and eight Doctors of Audiology in our six locations. Depending upon your symptoms, we’ll pair you with the perfect specialist from our team. 

Your visit will begin with having you detail what’s going on with your sinuses, breathing, sleep, hearing, allergies, or other issues. We’ll use this as an opening for your visit. If this is your first appointment with us, we’ll want to have you walk us through a detailed medical history in addition to your current symptoms. 

Next, we’ll perform a complete ENT examination. This will include an inspection of the face, ears, nose, throat, and neck. Obviously, we’ll focus on the area or areas that your symptoms point to. 

Throughout your appointment we also want your questions. We view every appointment as a complete give and take of information between our doctors and our patients. So, along the way if you have a question, there isn’t a bad time to ask it. 

After examining your condition, we’ll share with you what we see going on with your ears, nose, or throat. At this point, we may have sufficient information to discuss a treatment plan or treatment options. Or we may need to recommend some additional testing.. 

Can ENT doctors help with ear ringing?

We see many patients who complain of a constant ringing in their ears. This is clinically known as tinnitus. Tinnitus is characterized by the person hearing a ringing or roaring in their ears. It cannot be heard by others, so sometimes these sounds are deemed to be “phantom noises.” Tinnitus can occur in one or both ears. About one in five people have at least some degree of tinnitus. In some of those people, the ringing or other sound can become so loud it interferes with the person’s ability to concentrate. 

These are the sounds that can be heard with tinnitus:

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Roaring
• Clicking
• Hissing

Most cases of tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. These are usually two types of hearing loss:

• Age-related hearing loss — As we age, our hearing deteriorates. This typically starts around the age of 60. This form of hearing loss occurs in both ears and usually involves the loss of high-frequency sounds. Most seniors have some degree of tinnitus, and this is thought to be a result of this type of hearing loss. 

• Noise-induced hearing loss — Auditory damage from continued exposure to loud noises, either in a single event or over time, can cause permanent damage to your hearing. Tinnitus usually accompanies this. Unlike age-related hearing loss, however, noise-induced hearing loss can occur in one ear only. The patient typically loses the hearing around the frequency of the triggering noise that caused the damage. 

Treatment for tinnitus depends upon the underlying condition causing it. This could be as simple as removing an ear wax blockage or as involved as fitting you with a hearing aid. Sometimes changing medication or treating a blood vessel condition is necessary. 

Schedule A Consultation

If you want to learn more about our specializations, call our office today! Contact our office at 972.984.1050 to schedule a consultation at one of our locations.