Welcome to Jamaica Hospital’s Otolaryngology Program in Queens, NY
An otolaryngologist (or an ear, nose, and throat doctor) is a medical specialist who treats conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat, as well as related structures in the head and neck. This is one of the most complex areas of the body, as it affects your ability to breathe, eat, speak, hear, and view the world.
Jamaica Hospital’s expert team of ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, offers a broad range of advanced surgical and non-surgical treatment options. An ENT specialist in Queens, NY, can help adults and children with various conditions. Explore these conditions below.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes you to stop and start breathing while sleeping. This can lead to a few different symptoms, such as loud snoring or fatigue even after a full night’s sleep, and can eventually result in complications such as cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and liver problems. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, allergy treatment, the usage of devices to help open blocked airways, or surgery.
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is inflammation of one or both of the tonsils, which are two tissues on either side of the back of your throat that help prevent germs from entering the body. This inflammation is often caused by an infection and usually occurs in children below the age of 15. Tonsillitis may be temporary in many cases, but chronic tonsillitis can lead to complications such as difficulty breathing or infection of surrounding tissues. If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, treatment may involve the usage of antibiotics. In cases of chronic tonsillitis, surgery to remove the tonsils may be recommended.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are infections that occur in the middle ear, an air-filled space between the eardrum and the middle ear. This can cause symptoms such as pain, fluid drainage from the ear, and difficulty hearing. Ear infections can lead to potential complications such as permanent hearing impairment, spreading infection of surrounding tissues, and tearing of the eardrum. While many ear infections clear up on their own, you may require antibiotics if your infection is lasting for a long time, repeatedly returning, or causing significant damage.
Hearing Problems
Hearing problems can occur for a variety of reasons, including ear infections, earwax buildup, damage to the inner ear, or a ruptured eardrum. Not all hearing loss is total hearing loss; speech and other sounds may just seem more muffled or distant. Depending on the extent and causes of your hearing problems, treatment could involve earwax removal, medication, the usage of devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, or surgery.
Sinus Infections
Your sinuses are a series of connected spaces that drain mucus into the nasal cavity. When these spaces swell, they can become blocked and infected. Sinus infections may be caused by the common cold, allergic rhinitis, or a deviated septum. Symptoms may include facial pain and pressure, headaches, green or yellow nasal discharge, severe nasal congestion, or fatigue. Sinusitis will usually go away within a few days with rest, hydration, and Vitamin C. However, if your symptoms last more than one week or suddenly worsen, you may require antibiotics. In certain cases of chronic sinus infections or sinusitis, surgical treatment may be recommended.
Vertigo
Vertigo refers to a sensation that your surroundings are spinning around you, resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headaches, and, potentially, hearing-related problems such as hearing loss or tinnitus. While certain cases of vertigo stem from a condition affecting the brain, most cases of vertigo involve problems with the inner ear or vestibular nerve; this type of vertigo is called peripheral vertigo. Treatment for vertigo may involve rehabilitative therapy, medication, or surgery for the underlying issue causing the problem.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a ringing noise that can affect one or both of your ears. This noise is not caused by an external sound; it typically occurs due to an ear injury, infection, or blockage, problems with your circulatory system, or age. It can also occur as a side-effect of certain medications, including some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, cancer drugs, diuretic medications, antimalarial drugs, and antidepressants. Treatment for tinnitus depends on the underlying cause; it can include earwax removal, hearing aids, changes to medication, and recommended lifestyle changes.
Nasal Conditions
A wide variety of conditions can affect the nose, negatively impacting your ability to breathe and your overall quality of life. Many of these conditions, such as enlarged turbinates, a deviated septum, and nasal valve collapse, can be treated through procedures routinely performed by the expert team at our hospital’s ENT division.
Deviated Septum
A deviated septum occurs when the septum (the thin wall that divides your nasal passages) deviates toward one side of your nose, making one of your nasal passages larger than the other. This issue can lead to symptoms such as breathing difficulty, facial pain, and nosebleeds; however, most cases of a deviated septum do not cause any symptoms. While medication can treat symptoms of a deviated septum, this condition can only be corrected through surgery by our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY.
Nasal Valve Collapse
Nasal valve collapse refers to a narrowing of your nasal valve, the airway inside your nose, resulting in symptoms such as breathing disruptions and nasal congestion. Nasal valve collapse can be internal, meaning that the collapse affects the airway in the middle of your nose, or external, which causes one or both nostrils to visibly collapse when breathing. The otolaryngology specialists at our hospital in Queens, NY, typically correct this condition through a surgical procedure to repair the collapse.
Enlarged Nasal Turbinates
Our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, also correct turbinates. These are bony, tissue-covered nasal growths that help filter, warm, and humidify the air that you breathe. When they become enlarged, as may occur due to hormonal changes, medications you take, sinus infections, or the common cold, they can make it more difficult to breathe and make you feel more congested. Treatment for enlarged turbinates (also known as turbinate hypertrophy) in our hospital’s ENT division depends on the underlying cause of the problem and may involve medication and/or surgery.
Septal Perforation
Septal perforation refers to a hole in the septum, the dividing wall between your nasal passages. Perforation can occur as a complication of surgery or as a result of injury, infection, certain autoimmune diseases, or overuse of a drug that is ingested nasally. Generally, repairing a septal perforation requires a surgical procedure by our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY.
Head and Neck Conditions
Our otolaryngology division in Queens, NY, offers a broad range of treatments and surgical procedures for conditions affecting the head and neck, such as facial paralysis, thyroid cancer, and traumatic injury. These procedures are performed and overseen by our experienced, board-certified ENT specialists in Queens, NY, ensuring that you receive the expert treatment you need, no matter what head and neck condition you’re experiencing.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer develops in your thyroid, a gland at the base of your neck that produces hormones to regulate bodily processes such as heart rate and blood pressure. Most types of thyroid cancer develop slowly, making it easier to catch them at an early stage and treat them successfully. Treatment for thyroid cancer by our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, usually involves a procedure to remove part or all of the thyroid.
Thyroid Nodules
Small growths of tissue can sometimes form on the thyroid gland. These growths are known as thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules are common among adults. Most of these growths are benign, meaning they are non-cancerous and will not spread to other surrounding tissues. However, they can sometimes cause symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, pain in the front of your neck, rapid heartbeat, or weight loss, and may indicate the presence of thyroid disease.
Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism
Our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, can address various thyroid issues. Your thyroid gland can be overactive or underactive, creating too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism). Hyperthyroidism can cause a variety of symptoms, including weight loss, tremors, and an irregular heartbeat; hypothyroidism, on the other hand, may not cause noticeable symptoms early on, but can eventually lead to symptoms such as high cholesterol or heart problems if left untreated.
Hyperparathyroidism and Hypoparathyroidism
The parathyroid glands regulate your body’s calcium levels through the parathyroid hormone (PTH). When too much PTH is produced, it can cause issues such as weakened bones and kidney stones; when too little is produced, symptoms such as muscle cramps, abdominal pain, confusion, brittle nails, and cataracts can occur. Our otolaryngology specialists in Queens, NY, can address these issues.
Head and Neck Cancer
You can receive treatment for head and neck cancers from our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY. Head and neck cancer develops in the sinuses, nose, mouth, and throat. These cancers can cause a wide array of symptoms depending on where exactly they develop. Two of the biggest risk factors for head and neck cancer are smoking and the consumption of alcohol. However, these cancers can also result from factors such as human papillomavirus (HPV), ultraviolet (UV) rays, repeated exposure to substances such as formaldehyde and asbestos, the Epstein-Barr virus, and radiation treatment
Facial Paralysis
Our ear, nose, and throat division in NYC can also treat facial paralysis. This condition refers to an inability to move your facial muscles on one or both sides of your face. This inability may present as weakness or visible droopiness in the affected part of your face. Facial paralysis occurs due to damage to the facial nerve, which can occur due to factors such as an infection, physical trauma, or stroke. However, it can also develop without a clear cause; this is known as Bell’s palsy.
Skull and Brain Conditions
Our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, also offer a broad range of treatments and surgical solutions for conditions affecting the skull and brain. Here are some of the conditions we treat in our hospital’s ENT division.
Pituitary Adenoma
You can receive treatment for pituitary adenoma at our otolaryngology center in Queens, NY. A pituitary adenoma is a benign tumor that develops on the pituitary gland. Your pituitary gland releases hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including metabolism, physical responses to stress, energy levels, and physical development, as well as lactation, ovulation, and egg development in people assigned female at birth (AFAB). A pituitary adenoma can impact the production and release of hormones, causing either too many or too few to be released.
CSF Leak
Our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, can address CSF leaks. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a liquid that protects and removes waste from the brain and spinal cord. This fluid can sometimes leak into the nose, ear, or other parts of the head, leading to symptoms such as headaches or dizziness. Treatment for a CSF leak depends on its underlying cause. For some leaks, this cause can be identified and treated to stop the leak. An idiopathic CSF leak, however, may not have an identifiable cause; in this case, treatment may focus on the leak itself. This can involve relieving pressure on the brain or spine caused by the leak. In cases where this approach is insufficient, our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, may suggest surgery to correct the leak.
Skull Base Tumors
Skull base tumors develop at the base of the skull or in nearby areas, such as the sinus cavities. While these growths are usually benign, they may be cancerous in rare cases. Treatment for these tumors in our hospital’s ENT division will often depend on their location, size, whether or not they are cancerous (and if so, what stage they have reached), and any other medical circumstances you experience that may be relevant.
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At Jamaica Hospital’s Otolaryngology Division in Queens, NY, we possess the skills and resources necessary to provide a wide range of ENT services. Our hospital prides itself on bringing to you the latest treatments and techniques.
In addition, our ear, nose, and throat doctors in Queens, NY, are highly trained and stand out for consistently providing patients with the compassionate care they deserve. To make an appointment with our ENT doctors in Jamaica, Queens, please call 718-206-7110.
