ALLERGY & ENT DOCTOR IN LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ

Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat

It wasn’t that long ago that getting your tonsils out was a common rite of passage for kids. These days, many children still get tonsil infections, but the treatments have evolved enough that surgery is usually a last resort.

Another issue that’s common among children is ear infections. Some children develop ear infections because of the size of the Eustachian tubes, which easily become blocked. 

Whether your child has frequent ear infections, tonsil infections, or other issues involving the ENT, such as allergies or asthma, you want them to get specialized and attentive care. Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy center’s pediatric services in Lawrenceville, NJ can help your child feel better. We deliver care with compassion, making your child as comfortable as possible throughout all stages of treatment.

Allergies

If you have allergies, the arrival of spring might feel you with dread, rather than joy. Millions of people deal with seasonal allergies each year and for some, the symptoms of those allergies can dramatically interfere with their day-to-day lives. 

The first step in getting allergies under control is to figure out what you’re allergic to. An allergist or immunologist at Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy in Lawrenceville, NJ can conduct an allergy test, such as a skin prick test, blood testing, or patch testing to see what your immune system reacts to.

Treatment then depends on how severe your allergies are. In the case of food allergies, avoiding the allergen might be an effective treatment option. If you have mild seasonal allergies, over-the-counter or prescription medications can minimize symptoms. If your allergies are severe, immunotherapy to train your immune system not to react to certain allergens might be your best option. 

Snoring & Sleep Apnea

If you constantly wake up feeling tired and groggy, it could be due to sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to stop and start breathing during the night. Sleep apnea can be hard to detect unless you have a partner who notices that you’re having breathing difficulties at night. Often, the biggest symptoms of the condition appear during the day. 

Along with feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have headaches or difficulty concentrating. You might feel irritable, gain weight, or have memory problems. One common sign of sleep apnea is loud snoring, but snoring can also occur on its own for other reasons.

You deserve a good night’s sleep and the otolaryngologists at Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy can help you get the rest you need. We can discuss treatment options with you to alleviate snoring or to treat sleep apnea.

Nose and Sinus

When people think of nasal surgery, they think of rhinoplasty, which alters the appearance of the nose. But many types of nasal surgeries are designed to improve the nose’s function, rather than its cosmetics. 

Septoplasty, for example, can straighten a deviated septum. The septum is the piece of cartilage that divides the nostrils. If leans too far to one side or another, it can block your nasal passages, making it difficult to breathe.

Other surgeries can also help to improve the function of the nose and sinus system. For patients who have chronic sinus infections, sinus surgery can be an effective last-resort option. Sinus surgery might be appropriate if you have tried to treat sinus infections using other methods, such as medications but haven’t gotten relief.

If you’d like to breathe easier or want to spend less time feeling sick, a board-certified otolaryngology specialist can help. The team at Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy will discuss your symptoms with you, evaluate the treatments you’ve tried, and help you choose the best path to take moving forward.

Head and Neck

Otolaryngologists also treat disorders and diseases of the head and neck, a complex area that includes glands, organs, and muscles. Some of the most commonly treated head and neck diseases and disorders include cancers such as oral cavity cancer, larynx cancer, salivary gland cancer, pharynx cancer, and nasal cavity cancer. Hyperthyroidism (overactive) and hypothyroidism (underactive) are two other common disorders that affect the head and neck.

Treating head and neck disorders is critical for improving your quality of life, managing symptoms, and in some cases, extending your life. The board-certified otolaryngologists at Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy will work with you to get you the correct diagnosis and to develop a treatment plan that is effective.

Ears and Hearing Loss

Problems in the ears can range from recurring ear infections to tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. Some people develop hearing loss after prolonged exposure to loud noises on the job or an injury to the ears. Hearing loss can come on suddenly or develop over a period of years. Whatever the cause and however long it takes to develop, treating the issue is essential if you’d like to restore your quality of life.

The team at Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy is made up of audiologists and otolaryngologists who work together to provide the best possible therapy and treatment to patients dealing with hearing loss or ear disorders. Treatments can include hearing aids, removing excess ear wax, or providing medications to treat ear infections.

Voice and Swallowing

A swallowing disorder can make you choke or gag when you try to eat or drink or it can make it difficult for food and drink to travel from your mouth through the esophagus. Whatever type of swallowing disorder you have, it can significantly affect your day-to-day life. 

Treatments for swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia, can include therapy, medications, and even Botox injections. Treatment is highly individualized and a treatment plan will be created for you based on the cause of your dysphagia, the type, and your specific goals and needs.

Voice disorders can change the way your voice sounds and affect your speaking and singing voice. Treatment of voice disorders is customized and depends on the cause of the problem and your needs.