It’s understandable to be concerned when anything affects your ability to hear, smell, swallow, or taste.
Your first attempt at treating conditions that may be affecting your ears, nose, or throat will likely involve a visit to your regular doctor. It’s usually when there’s a need for confirmation of a suspected problem or initial treatment efforts aren’t effective that patients are referred to the best ENT clinic in Los Angeles for their specific needs.
Here’s a closer look at some of the reasons why you may want to consider a visit to a specialized facility.
You Have Allergies
Millions of Americans deal with allergies of some type on a regular or seasonal basis. Your eyes, ears, sinuses, and throat may be affected if you have allergic rhinitis (hay fever), a common allergic condition that can result in severe sinus pressure and congestion. If you have hay fever or any other type of allergy that may be affecting your ability to breathe, taste food properly, or swallow, specialists at the best ENT clinic in Los Angeles might:
- Perform allergy tests
- Visually inspect your sinuses with a thin, flexible scope
- Recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) for chronic or serious allergies
You Have an Ear Infection or Ear-Related Condition
The best ENT clinic in Los Angeles is where you can go for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a wide range of ear infections or conditions. Outer ear infections are typically treated with antibiotics. Recurring middle ear infections may be related to viral infections that started in the throat or nose. An ENT doctor sometimes has to drain fluid or temporarily insert tubes to treat severe middle ear infections. Treatment is also available at an ENT clinic for the following ear-related conditions:
- Benign proxysmal positional vertigo
- Meniere’s Disease
- Benign tumors affecting hearing (acoustic neuromas)
- Abnormal middle ear bone growth (otosclerosis)
- Noise-induced or age-related hearing loss
- Chronic ear-ringing (tinnitus)
You Have Nose-Related Problems Not Involving Your Sinuses
The ability to breathe properly can be affected by the position of your nasal septum, the wall that divides your nasal passages. If you have a deviated septum and you’re not benefiting from the use of decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal sprays, one of the procedures performed at the best ENT clinic in Los Angeles may be nasal septum reconstruction (septoplasty). Surgery may also be performed to correct other nose injuries or deformities.
You Have Voice, Vocal Cord, or Throat Problems
If polyps and nodules develop in your throat, the first symptom you’re likely to notice is hoarseness, or a change in vocal quality. At a top-quality ENT clinic, unusual vocal cord or throat growths can be evaluated and appropriately treated. Should your thyroid gland be affected by a growth that might be cancerous, removal of all or part of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) may be recommended. You may also be referred to a first-rate L.A ENT clinic if you are experiencing:
- Unexplained changes with your voice
- Irritation of your tonsils or adenoids
- Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affecting your throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Recurring or chronic throat infections
Common ear, nose, and throat problems, such as a minor ear infection or a sore throat, can often be treated by your primary care physician. A search for the best ENT clinic in Los Angeles usually begins when these conditions become chronic or severe. You may also benefit from the type of treated provided at a well-respected and fully equipped ENT clinic if your have vague symptoms without a clear source, a suspicious growth that needs to be evaluated by a specialist, or abnormalities like a deviated nasal septum that may be affecting your daily quality of life.