Patient Information
Glossary
Please select the letter of the term that you would like to learn more
about.
| Allergies: |
A body's
response to agents in the environment, either inhalant or
contact or food that provoke a sensitivity reaction in one's
body in the form of runny nose, sneezing or skin reaction, or
intestinal response. These are best treated by avoidance,
medications in the antihistamine or steroid class, or
immunotherapy (allergy shots). |
| Audiology: |
The science
that deals with the study of all aspects of hearing and sound
perception and the correction of certain types of hearing losses
by the use of hearing aids.
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| Chronic
fatigue syndrome: |
A complex of
symptoms with multiple system involvement sometime related to
Ebstein Barr Virus (EBV), Lyme disease, or Fibromyalgia. |
| Cochlear
implants: |
A surgically
implantable device successfully used to transmit sound to the
inner ear and brain for the treatment of deafness.
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| Earache
(otalgia): |
Pain related
to the ear either directly from the ear itself, either outer ear
(swimmer's ear), or middle ear (otitis media). It can also be
referred to the ear from other parts of the head including the
(T's): teeth, throat, tonsils, thyroid, TMJ, or tongue. |
| Ear
infections: |
Referring
to either the outer ear (swimmer's ear) or middle ear (otitis
media), which can progress to rupture of the eardrum or mastoid
infections if left untreated. |
| Endoscopic
sinus surgery: |
A term that
defines the surgical procedure used to open and drain
permanently the nasal sinuses, performed through the nostrils
with a small camera inserted into the nose and sinuses, and shown
on a video screen. It is usually performed as an outpatient
surgery without
bruising or external scars.
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| Facial
plastic surgery: |
A surgical
subspecialty that deals with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery
of all areas above the collar bone, mostly populated by Board
Certified Ear, Nose and Throat Physicians who have taken extra
training focused only in these areas (face lift, blepharoplasty,
rhinoplasty, otoplasty, skin care, etc.) and who have taken
qualifying exams and Board Certification achievement for this
specialty.
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| Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease (GERD): |
A
symptom complex seen in individuals whereby stomach acid flows
back up the esophagus from an incompetent stomach sphincter
allowing the acid to either cause heartburn especially when
laying down, or a chronic cough when the stomach acid actually
overflows into the larynx, vocal cords, and lungs. It is
diagnosed by
Barium Swallow X-ray, treatable medically with medications (Nexium,
Aciphex, Prilosec, etc.), and treated long term by the
Gastroenterologist (GI) Physicians.
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| Hay
fever: |
A symptom
complex that refers generally to the body's allergic or
rejection response to inhaled allergens such as pollen, grasses,
or other seasonal airborne irritants. Usually treated seasonally
with medications in the antihistamine or steroid classes or long
term by Allergy testing and immunotherapy (allergy shots). |
| Hearing
aids: |
Devices that
are utilized in or behind the ear for the amplification of
hearing, as well as the treatment or diminution of ringing in
the ear (tinnitus).
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| Menieres
disease: |
A complex of
symptoms seen in some individuals who demonstrate hearing loss
(usually low frequency), ringing in the ear (tinnitus),
equilibrium problems (vertigo), and pressure in the ear (usually
episodic). This is diagnosed by the otolaryngologist most
commonly by history, physical examination, and hearing testing.
Treatment is usually medical and most commonly cared for long
term by Neuro Otologists (Inner Ear Specialists). |
| Myringotomy
Tubes (pediatric tubes, BMT's PET's): |
Small
surgically implanted drainage or ventilation tubes that are
microscopically placed in the eardrum by the Otolaryngologist
for the treatment of chronic hearing loss related to fluid
retention in the middle ears or chronic ear infections. Usually
done under a brief anesthetic in the operating room, often
accompanied by the removal of the adenoids and/or tonsils in
children. In adults, usually done as an office procedure under
local or topical anesthesia to the eardrum. The temporary tubes
generally last about 6-12 months, but permanent tubes (T-tubes,
Goode tubes) can be place for long term.
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| Otolaryngology: |
The Medical
and Surgical Specialty that is concerned with the care of
ear, nose and throat disorders. Correctly should be
OtoRhinoLaryngology. The training generally requires completion
of 4 years of Medical School, completion of one year of
Internship, then 4 or more years of Residency training
concentrated totally on the medical and surgical treatment of
all diseases of the ear, nose and throat and head and neck
disorders. Fellowship training after that for usually one year
may give the doctor further specialization in Facial Plastic
Surgery, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Neuro otology or Head and
Neck Diseases. |
| Otosclerosis: |
A disorder
of the middle ear that usually manifests in child bearing
females, but can occur in either sex and even in children, any
time in life. The common symptom is hearing loss that occurs
over a period of time, not suddenly, and is diagnosed by
Audiology testing and physical examination and tuning fork
testing by the physician. Treatment is generally successful with
either surgery or hearing aids.
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| Plastic
surgery: |
The Surgical
Specialty that deals with reconstruction of areas of the body,
arose mostly from military injury care. Plastic does imply that
plastic materials are used in the process, plastic comes from
the Latin word "plastere" which means to reconstruct.
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| Rhinitis: |
Refers to
infection within the nasal cavity, can be allergic mostly
associated with clear drainage, itching of the nose and eyes, or
sneezing. Can also be bacterial in nature associated with green
or yellow drainage, temperature elevation and pain, and is commonly
associated with sinus infections and disease. Vasomotor rhinitis
refers to a disorder of overactivity of the nerves in the nose
that supply activity of the mucus glands, usually treated with
the same medications that are used to treat allergic rhinitis,
antihistamines and steroid preparations and also recently,
leukotriene inhibitors like Singulair. |
| Rhinoplasty: |
An operation
on the nose to reconstruct the appearance, either after injury
(Reconstructive Functional Rhinoplasty) or for purely aesthetic
or cosmetic reasons (Cosmetic Rhinoplasty) and is commonly known as
the "nose job."
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| Sleep
apnea: |
A sleep
disordered breathing syndrome manifested by partial obstruction
or cessation of breathing during sleep, either from obstruction
of the nasal, oral or lower oral (hypopharyngeal or base of
tongue) airway  known as Obstructive Sleep
Apnea (OSA), or from lack of initiation of the respiratory
effort from the brain or central nervous system known as Central
Sleep Apnea. Associated with snoring, obesity, and multiple other
medical problems if untreated. Treatment may be medical,
mechanical by the use of breathing supportive apparatus known as
CPAP, or surgical correction aimed at correcting the site of
obstruction. Diagnosis and treatment depend on the findings on
physical exam (neck size greater than 16 inches is associated
with OSA 90% of the time), results of polysomnogram (sleep
study, more than 5 episodes per hour considered sleep apnea), and
office endoscopy to visualize the airway from the nostrils to
the vocal cords. |
| Sleep
medicine: |
A medical
subspecialty that concerns disorders that are resultant of sleep
apnea and the treatment of the causative factors. Actually a
continually evolving subspecialty that is populated by
physicians who practice multiple specialties, including
Pulmonary Medicine, Internal Medicine, Allergy,
Otorhinolaryngology, Neurology, and Anesthesiology. |
| Sinusitis: |
Inflammation
and infection of the sinus(es), may be allergic, bacterial or
fungal. Diagnosis and treatment is via office history and
physical examination which may include cultures from the nasal
passages, CAT scans, or nasal and sinus office fiberoptic
endoscopy. Usual treatment is medical or allergic depending on
the cause, but may benefit from surgical correction if it is
associated with chronic problems or breathing disorders. |
| Swimmers
ear: |
Inflammation
of the external ear canal and even the external cartilaginous
ear if progressive and untreated. Usually associated with
getting water in the ear and the dark, narrow, poorly ventilated
ear canal (will subsequently stay damp), macerate the skin and the
moist skin will be a growth area for fungus and bacteria (similar to the causative factors in athlete's foot of jock
itch).
Treatment is generally with medicines, both topical drops and
oral antibiotics and steroids, as well as frequent cleaning of
the ear canal in the office. The best treatment is preventative
by keeping water out of the ears if the patient is prone to get
these, or clean the ears after swimming with rubbing alcohol or
vinegar (common mistake is to use peroxide in the ears, which
actually keeps the ear moist and may be a causative factor in
swimmer's ear).
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| Tinnitis: |
A common
complaint of patients who sense ringing or roaring in the ears.
Commonly associated with noise exposure, certain medications,
and medical disorders (especially high blood pressure). Usual
diagnosis is by office history and physical examination,
complete audiological evaluation by Audiologist in a
Audiological Testing soundproof booth, and sometimes additional
audiological or medical testing is necessary. Usual initial
treatment is to have the patient decrease aspirin and NSAIDS
(Motrin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc.) intake and eliminate salt from the diet
for 2 weeks and see the effect (surprisingly large number of
patients improve simply doing this). |
| TMJ: |
Temporo
Mandibular Joint disorder, the jaw joint directly in front of
the ear, usually an arthritic type condition and pain commonly
associated with grinding of the teeth of misalignment of the
teeth. This can be diagnosed by and office history and physical
examination but treatment is commonly performed by members of
the Dental Profession including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
or TMJ specialists by manipulation, realignment of the teeth,
appliances or bite blocks, and sometime surgery. |
| Tympanoplasty: |
A surgical
procedure to reconstruct the ear drum (Tympanic Membrane) for
perforation or hole in the eardrum resulting from chronic
infections or trauma. The surgery is performed after extensive
evaluation and treatment only, and after appropriate tests are
performed which may include Audiological testing, Radiographic
evaluation of the mastoid bone, behind the ear, or even sinus
evaluation in the adult with ear disorders. Surgery may be
performed either through the ear canal or by an approach through
an incision behind the ear, usually performed under general
anesthesia as an outpatient.
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© 2003 Robert A. Gadlage, MD FACS
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