Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Care for You and Your Family
Your ears, nose and throat provide important functions in your everyday life, so it's not surprising that when something goes wrong with them, it can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists (also called otolaryngologists) provide the care and treatment that you need to prevent or eliminate infections and to help manage and treat other conditions like sinus headaches, recurrent ear infections or hearing loss. We'll help you find relief.
Conditions We Treat
- Sinus headaches/frontal migraine headaches
- Sinusitis (recurring or chronic sinus infections)
- Nasal and sinus polyps
- Nasal breathing obstruction
- Children and adults with snoring and/or sleep apnea
- Children with recurrent ear infections or hearing loss
- Skin cancer on the head, face, ears, and neck
- Dizzy and balance disorders
- Tinnitus
It is especially important to seek care for tinnitus if it is a new onset, one-sided or pulsatile (sounds like you can hear your heartbeat in your ear.)
- Hearing loss
It is crucial to seek urgent care if this is a sudden onset hearing loss. We do our best to offer same day appointments if you are experiencing sudden hearing loss.
When to get care
Adults and children with:
- Chronic headaches
- Facial pressure
- Migraine headaches
- Chronic or recurrent sinus infections
- Nasal breathing problems
- Snoring
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Recurrent ear infections
- Fluid in ears
- Dizzy and balance problems
Common ENT Treatments
There are many conditions that might affect your ear, nose or throat and there are many treatments, including medicines, surgeries and the use of medical devices. We’ll work with you to determine the best treatment option.
Some of the more common treatments include:
Ear Tubes
When someone has recurrent or chronic ear infections, ear tubes (pressure equalization tubes) are used to relieve problems caused by infections and the fluid buildup that ear infections bring. They are most often used to treat chronic ear infections in children. Small tubes inserted into the ear drum that eventually fall out on their own. The tube prevents fluids from building up behind the eardrum.
Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy)
We might recommend tonsil removal to treat recurrent or chronic tonsillitis, snoring, sleep apnea and other rare tonsil conditions, including cancer. We’ll talk to you about whether or not a tonsillectomy is your best treatment option.
Sinus Surgery
We offer a variety of surgical options to treat your ear, nose and throat problems.
- Nose and sinus surgery
- Tonsillectomy
- Adenoidectomy
- Ear tubes
- Sleep apnea surgery for children and adults
Sleep Studies
Through clinical study, we help you uncover your specific barriers to sleep. We use state-of the-art equipment and best practices to monitor sleep patterns in real time. We focus on helping you identify and overcome sleep disorders.
Nasal Breathing Surgery
Dizzy and Imbalance Disorders
Dizziness is a sense of disorientation, feeling lightheaded or off-balance. Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room around you is spinning. If you ever have vertigo so bad that you can’t even stand up, go to the Emergency Department to rule out severe causes like a stroke.
The vestibular system is a sensory system located within your inner ears and brain to help you feel oriented to the space around you and to help you keep your balance. The vestibular system and hearing are located within the same organ in both of your ears.
Common vestibular disorders
BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) – BPPV happens when tiny crystals in your inner ear become dislodged. These crystals tell your brain if you're upright or upside down. When they move to the wrong place, your brain gets confused, and you may feel like you just stepped off a merry-go-round. Fortunately, BPPV is highly treatable with targeted head maneuvers. You may be referred to a physical therapist who specializes in the maneuvers to get the crystals back into place.
Vestibular migraine – Migraines don’t always mean headaches. About 3% of the population experiences vestibular migraines, with dizziness, vertigo, ear pressure, nausea, or even light sensitivity. We discuss lifestyle adjustments, supplements, or physical therapy as treatment.
Vestibular Neuritis / Labyrinthitis – These conditions usually occur as a one-time event of really intense vertigo. They’re caused by inflammation of a nerve or of the inner ear itself. Symptoms can last a few days to a week. Any associated hearing changes should prompt an urgent evaluation. Treatment includes a steroid medication to reduce that inflammation.
Age related dizziness and imbalance – Balance relies on input from the ears, eyes, muscles, joints, and brain. As we age, these systems weaken, leading to imbalance. We can use balance programs or strengthening exercises to help restore stability and reduce your risk of falling.
Meniere's Disease – A relatively rare disorder that is characterized by a fluid buildup within the inner ear causing vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss or ear fullness. Treatment includes lifestyle modifications, PT, hearing aids, and medications.
ENT Patient Stories
ENT Articles
Advice on Your Ears
Swimmer's Ear
ENT Services We Offer
- Adenoidectomy
- Nose and sinus surgery
- Tonsillectomy
- Audiology
- Removal of facial skin cancer
- Ear tubes
- Sleep apnea surgery for children and adults
Our Team of Doctors and Providers
Service Locations
Faribault Clinic
Lakeville Clinic
Northfield Clinic
Information, Resources & Links
Dizzy and Imbalance Disorders
Dizziness is a sense of disorientation, feeling lightheaded or off-balance. Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room around you is spinning. If you ever have vertigo so bad that you can’t even stand up, go to the Emergency Department to rule out severe causes like a stroke.
The vestibular system is a sensory system located within your inner ears and brain to help you feel oriented to the space around you and to help you keep your balance. The vestibular system and hearing are located within the same organ in both of your ears.