Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Care

Ochsner ENT providers know that a holistic approach to care helps ensure the best results for problems affecting the ear, nose, throat, sinuses and mouth. Our team draws on the expertise of our board-certified physicians to treat problems that impact more than just one part of the body. As necessary, we partner with the allergy and immunology department, the neurology and neurosurgery departments, the McCasland Family Comprehensive Headache Center, and the oncology department to offer integrated multispecialty care.

We offer advanced ENT care across Louisiana, including in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Many locations also offer extended hours. Find a location near you.

Even minor problems in your ear, nose and throat can have a big impact on your quality of life. At Ochsner, our ENT specialists provide advanced care for common and rare problems, such as:

• Sudden and chronic ear infections

• Allergies that affect the ears, nose and throat

• Cancer of the salivary or thyroid glands

• Cancer in the sinuses or nose

• Cysts in the ear (cholesteatoma)

• Deviated septum — a crooked area between the nasal passages

• Dizziness and balance problems

• Facial trauma or wounds

• Growths or swelling in the mouth and throat

• Hearing loss

• Hoarseness and other voice disorders

• Loss of smell

• Nasal polyps — noncancerous growths in the nose

• Oral cancer

• Persistent nasal drainage

• Recurrent or chronic sore throats

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

• Sinus pain and chronic sinus infections

• Snoring and sleep apnea

• Swallowing disorders

• Throat cancer

Ochsner believes in using the least invasive approach to care whenever possible. Many problems can be treated with lifestyle changes or medication, and we will always start there before progressing to more involved options, such as:

• Adenoid removal

• Balloon sinuplasty — sinus balloon dilation

• Cochlear implantation

• Eardrum reconstruction

• Facial reconstruction

• Implantable hearing aids

• Minimally invasive sinus surgery

• Minimally invasive surgery for head and neck cancers

• Nasal reconstruction (rhinoplasty)

• Polyp removal

• Speech therapy

• Surgery to treat deviated septum (septoplasty)

• Tear duct surgery

• Throat and airway surgery

• Thyroid surgery

• Tonsil removal

• Treatment for blocked or clogged Eustachian tubes — the tube that connects your ears to your throat

• Treatments for nasal blockage

• Tumor removal

Ochsner ENT providers frequently work with the allergy and immunology department to treat common sinus problems that have an allergic component to them. Clinical trials may be available to patients with cancer and certain other diagnoses, including chronic sinus problems. MyOchsner virtual visits are offered whenever feasible.

Our department has been recognized as the best in Louisiana and one of the top programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Our providers are regularly honored by New Orleans magazine as “Best Doctors.”

Audiology, which is part of the ENT department at Ochsner, provides expert care for hearing loss and related disorders, from newborns to seniors to everyone in between. We are one of the leading and largest audiology centers in the region. Our comprehensive hearing center specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of hearing disorders, including screenings, diagnostic exams and hearing aid fitting.

We also have audiologists who are certified to program cochlear implants. Our expertise ensures patients receive thorough attention before, during and after the process.

Statistically, only 1 in 20 people eligible for cochlear implants have been offered the surgery. Given the higher prevalence of congenital inner ear malformations in the Cajun population, Ochsner ENT providers are working to expand awareness of who can benefit from this life-changing surgery.

There are many infections that can bother your ears, nose, or throat. Here's what you should know:

• Colds and the flu usually go after your nose or throat, but sometimes they can make all three areas feel bad. These common bugs remind us how our body parts work together.
• Sometimes, if you're sick in other places like your chest or breathing paths, those germs can travel to your ears. This includes really tough sicknesses like measles. It shows why we need to protect ourselves everywhere.
• Illnesses like mono (the kissing disease) and mumps mostly hurt your throat but can also make your ears feel bad. It's interesting how one part of your body can affect another.
• Strep throat is when a specific nasty germ called Streptococcus makes your throat hurt a lot. It's a strong reminder of why we fight against germs.

When you come to us for an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) check-up, we do a thorough job to make sure you're in top shape. We look at your face, ears, nose, throat, and neck very carefully. It's important for us to check how well you can hear, so we might do some tests that involve a little bit of pressure to see if there's any fluid behind your eardrum.

For your nose, we use special tools like a headlight or mirror and something called a speculum to get a really good look inside at the nasal septum and turbinates. Sometimes, we'll have you use a decongestant nose spray so we can see things even more clearly.

We also check out your voice box and gently examine your neck, paying close attention to your lymph nodes, salivary glands, and thyroid gland. We finish by checking your overall health, including your heart and lungs.

Recognizing whether an infection is viral or bacterial influences the symptoms you experience and the treatment we use.

It's important to know that most of the time when we catch colds or the flu, it's because of viral infections. These unwelcome guests can mess with the harmony of our ears, nose, and throat, making us feel sick and uncomfortable.

Bacterial infections may not show up as often, but when they do, they mean business. They can make things pretty tough. Here’s the good news: if you're dealing with a bacterial infection in your ear, nose, or throat, we have a strong friend on our side—antibiotics. These special medications are like heroes, zooming in to fight off the bad bacteria and help us get back on our feet. But remember, antibiotics are like superheroes who only fight certain villains; they can't take down viral infections. That's why getting the right diagnosis is super important.

When we're talking about things like colds, strep throat, mono, sinus infections, toothaches, allergies, TMJ (excessive strain on the jaw joints), and acid reflux, we're diving into a world where these common problems can cause a lot of discomfort in our throats and ears. Sometimes this kind of pain or discomfort shows up in both the throat and the ear together.

It's important to talk with your with your doctor to figure out exactly what's causing this discomfort. It helps us give the right kind of care and make things better.