Ear

DIZZINESS & VERTIGO

Vestibular Testing for Balance Concerns

Do you suffer from Vertigo? Does dizziness often interfere with your day-to-day activities? Have you fallen due to losing your balance? If so, it’s time to get your inner ear checked.

At Gulf Coast Facial Plastics and ENT Center, our physicians offer Vestibular Testing and a full scope of audiology services to include a hearing pathway test, which is frequently combined with a vestibular test.

Please be aware that if dizziness is not caused by the inner ear, it might be caused by the brain, or from medical disorders such as low blood pressure, cardiac problems, vascular issues, infections, complications of diabetes, vision problems, or psychological difficulties such as anxiety. Recent studies have documented that vestibular tests are more accurate than a clinical examination in identifying inner ear disorders (Gorden et al, 1996). Getting a Vestibular Test is the first step in obtaining an answer to your balance concerns.

A referral from the patient’s primary doctor is all that is needed in order to proceed with scheduling.

Gulf Coast Facial Plastics and ENT Center has provided ear, nose, and throat services in this region for more than 20 years. If you are experiencing inner ear issues, please have your doctor refer you to our offices.

Meniere’s Disease

Do you often feel as if something is spinning inside your ears or you sometimes experience hearing loss? You could be suffering from Meniere’s disease – a condition in which there is excess fluid in the inner ear that hampers hearing mechanism. This is a long term condition that often affects one ear and can sometimes feel like there’s a lot of pressure on the affected ear. It is a rare disorder that can also affect your balance.

Though there is no cure, Meniere’s disease can be easily managed. Visit us to have a thorough checkup and prevent the risk of permanent loss of hearing.

Ear Irrigation

CERUMEN IMPACTION

It is not at all uncommon for my patients to experience a buildup of ear wax, which can not only affect their ability to hear, but also can cause extreme pain. While minor cases of ear wax buildup can be treated at home through a simple over-the-counter irrigation procedure, it is much safer to come into our office to have ear wax removed. (Note: We caution against the use of cotton swabs, which can force the wax further into the ear canal.) It is especially important to come into our office, as soon as possible, if you experience pain, fever, or drainage. Normally, hearing loss is temporary, but our office also provides

Otitis Media

We’ve had many patients complaining of frequent ear aches, headaches, diarrhea and loss of appetite only to examine them and find that they are suffering from Otitis Media. This persistent ear infection often affects children and is caused by an inflammation of the middle ear. When your young one starts pulling or rubbing the ear consistently or is irritable and restless especially at night, this could be a sign of an ear infection.

Symptoms of an ear infection that show no improvement, cause pain or discharge from the ear should never be ignored. We provide treatment for ear infections that can clear up in a few days, as well as relieve pain and fever.

Otitis Externa

Otitis Externa describes inflammation of the ear canal due to an infection, allergy or other causes. The skin on the outer ear is very sensitive and once infected; the same bacteria can find its way into the ear drum. When water, soap, shampoo or hairspray stays on the ear canal for so long, it can cause it to itch. Scratching the ear often makes it worse because it causes inflammation and the inflamed skin is prone to infections.

Ear drops can relieve the inflammation but if it doesn’t get better within 3 months, visit our office to have your ears thoroughly examined.

PE Tube & T-Tube Placement

Placement of PE tubes is a relatively simple procedure and usually causes very few problems. The most common problem is pain, and may be treated with an over-the-counter pain reliever as recommended by Dr. Daube.

Occasionally, there is some slight bleeding. This usually does not last long and occurs immediately after surgery and requires no treatment other than placing a small piece of dry, clean cotton in the ear to protect clothing.

The operation is performed under a general anesthetic with a mask. Upon awakening, the patient may experience may experience nausea, drowsiness, or both. This is normal and should resolve in a few hours. Keep your child indoors and quiet. Give clear liquids only until nausea subsides. If an adult, relax and do nothing strenuous.

Although tubes are in place, ear infections can occur and need to be treated. The patient does not need to wear ear plugs while bathing or showering, but should wear ear plugs when swimming in lakes, ponds, or the Gulf waters.

Hearing Loss

With age and repeated exposure to noise comes hearing loss. But being partially or completely unable to hear shouldn’t sentence you to a life of torture. Some causes of hearing loss can be treated by surgery or medication. Conductive hearing loss which occurs due to problems in the ear canal, ear drum or the bones in the ear can be surgically treated. Sensorineural hearing loss which occurs due to damaged nerves can be treated by medical therapy depending on its cause.

Positive results can be seen by using hearing aids. Visit an ear doctor to understand the treatment options available for hearing loss.

Tinnitus

Ringing or buzzing in the ears is far from normal. We’ve had patients who’ve ignored tinnitus, which can be a symptom of a serious ear condition that needs to be addressed. The sounds may be coming from one ear or both and most of the time it starts gradually. Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom. It can be caused by an ear infection, exposure to certain medicines or ear conditions like Meniere’s disease. One way to avoid this symptom is to stay away from loud noises.

When you come into our Panama City office, our ENT will ask you a number of questions to better understand your condition and offer an accurate diagnosis. Pay us a visit and put a stop to those unwanted noises in your ears.

Tympanoplasty / Mastoidectomy

The mastoid bone is a bony collection of air pockets located just behind the ear. The Tympanoplasty with Mastoidectomy procedure is performed to correct issues that have arisen within the middle ear, usually caused by chronic infections. Skin growths can form within this area of the ear and, if not treated, can cause a variety of problems to include dizziness, deafness, and nerve damage. It should also be noted that, if left untreated, there are many more dire situations that can occur, so surgery is strongly recommended. After we place the patient under general anesthesia, we make an incision behind the ear to assess how much damage has been done to the mastoid bone. It is extremely important for our patients to follow our post-operative procedures in order to avoid any additional complications.