Ear, Nose, and Throat at Lakewood Health System

When you need surgery to relieve an ENT disorder, you’ll find the latest surgical options in a comfortable, relaxing setting. You can count on the expertise and experience of our surgeons, who perform a high volume of these procedures each year.

We offer the following ENT surgeries:

• Ear tube insertion

• Endocrine surgery, including thyroid and parathyroid

• Sinus surgery

• Laser bronchoscopy to diagnose and treat bronchial disorders

• Laryngoscopy for in-depth examination and diagnosis of the throat

• Tonsillectomy to remove the tonsils

• Otoplasty to correct structural defects or reshape the ear
• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPS) to remove the tonsils, uvula and part of the soft palate

The insertion of ear tubes is a common procedure to prevent ear infections or get rid of fluid in the ears that won’t go away. When the space behind the eardrum isn’t well ventilated, fluid builds up and an ear infection can start. To drain this fluid and create ventilation, a small hole is made in the middle ear, and a tube is inserted to keep it open. Within 6 to 18 months, the ear drum will push out the tube.

During a typical tube procedure, general anesthesia is used to sedate the patient, however with the Hummingbird procedure, only conscious sedation is used. A new device simplifies things by deploying the tube much quicker, allowing for a faster surgery and recovery. The patient will be back in their parents’ arms and then back home shortly after. While the procedure is typically best for children who are three years and younger, each patient will be evaluated by their ENT (ear, nose and throat) provider to determine the best option for them.

If you have difficulty with hearing or balance or are troubled by ear pain, we can help. Our expert audiologists use the latest technology and techniques to identify, assess and treat issues related to ear health and hearing function.

We help patients with all types of hearing conditions, including:

• Ear pain or plugged ears

• Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD)

• Ear infections and diseases, including otitis media, the most common cause of earaches

• Hearing loss

• Ruptured eardrum

• Tinnitus (ringing of the ears)

• Vertigo (dizziness and loss of balance)

Sveinar Larsen, M.A., CCC-A and Dr. Alexandra Borders, AUD, CCC-A see patients on designated Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lakewood’s Staple and Pillager clinics. They perform hearing testing on patients of all ages to determine both the extent and cause of hearing loss, balance assessments, and hearing aid evaluations.