Ear, Nose, and Throat Conditions We Treat at UPMC

If you have allergies, vertigo, or other ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues, you may need to see a specialist.

Our ENT doctors treat a full range of otolaryngology conditions and diseases.

Ear Conditions We Treat

Adults and children can have a wide range of ear problems — from balance issues and ear infections to tumors. Ear pain, dizziness, and hearing loss are common symptoms of ear disorders.

UPMC ENT doctors treat the following ear problems:

• Acoustic neuroma — A non-cancerous tumor that grows on the nerve that connects the inner ear and the brain.
• Balance problems — Issues that cause you to feel dizzy or like you're spinning or moving while standing or sitting, such as vertigo.
• Ear infections — When bacterial or viral infections cause trapped fluid behind the eardrum, resulting in swelling, pain, and potential hearing loss.
• Hearing disorders and deafness — Many factors cause these issues, such as genes, aging, exposure to loud noise, injury, or illness.
• Meniere's disease — A disease of the inner ear that affects balance and hearing, marked by vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
• Tinnitus — A ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ear that has no outside source and various causes.
• Cholesteatoma — A benign growth that can form in the middle ear, causing hearing loss, ear infections, and dizziness.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction — When the tube that connects the middle ear to the throat becomes blocked, causing pain, pressure, and hearing problems. 

Facial Nerve Conditions We Treat

Our experts diagnose and treat people with many kinds of facial nerve disorders. As one of the world’s leading centers of expertise in facial paralysis, we often provide answers and second opinions for patients who feel they've run out of options. We also teach other doctors how to diagnose and treat facial nerve disorders.

Some of the facial nerve conditions we treat are:

• Bell’s palsy — A sudden-onset, complete facial paralysis that typically occurs over 24 to 48 hours. It may be associated with ear pain or taste disturbances on the affected side. 
• Cancer-associated facial paralysis — Because of its complex anatomy, the facial nerve can be involved in various cancers of the head and neck. Skin and salivary gland cancers are the most common cancers affecting the facial nerve. Facial paralysis may result from direct invasion of the nerve by the cancer itself or by the surgery performed to remove the cancer. Facial nerve injury from head and neck cancer can result in flaccid facial paralysis or synkinesis, depending on the extent of the nerve injury. 
• Congenital facial paralysis — Refers to facial paralysis or weakness that has been present since birth. It can range from complete facial paralysis to zonal or partial facial weakness. Congenital facial paralysis can be associated with congenital conditions such as Moebius syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Goldenhaar syndrome, and congenital unilateral lower lip palsy (CULLP).
• Facial nerve trauma — Damage to the facial nerve can result from blunt facial trauma, penetrating facial injury, or surgery.  Depending on the extent of the nerve injury, it can result in flaccid facial paralysis if the nerve is severed or synkinesis. 
• Facial schwannomas — Schwannomas are benign tumors of the facial nerve that can be asymptomatic but may sometimes cause either progressive or fluctuating facial weakness. If there is concern about a facial schwannoma, your provider will likely order imaging (a CT or MRI scan). Providers must maintain a high index of suspicion for facial schwannoma, as they can be challenging to pick up on imaging.
• Lyme disease — A bacterial, tickborne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is a common cause of facial paralysis in certain regions of the United States.
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome — A sudden-onset, complete facial paralysis often associated with hearing loss, vertigo, or a characteristic rash involving the face or ear.  Like Bell’s palsy, Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the reactivation of a virus that lies dormant in the cell bodies of the facial nerve.
• Facial synkinesis — Also known as nonflaccid facial paralysis, synkinesis refers to a subcategory of facial paralysis characterized by muscle tightness, disorganized muscle movements, and an inability to make normal facial expressions.  

Nose Conditions We Treat at UPMC

Many conditions affect your nose, from the common cold to taste and smell disorders. Symptoms can include sneezing, pain, and pressure around the nasal cavities.

Some of the most common nasal problems we treat are:

• Allergies — An abnormal immune response to a typically harmless substance, causing symptoms like sneezing, itching, and swelling.
• Common cold — A contagious viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract, causing symptoms like coughing, sneezing, congestion, and sore throat.
• Deviated septum — The nasal septum — the cartilage that divides the nostrils — is off-center or crooked.
• Nose injuries and disorders — A range of health issues that can cause pain or damage to the structure of the nose.
• Nosebleeds — When the tissue lining of the nose loses blood due to trauma, dry air, or certain health issues.
• Rhinitis — When there's swelling of the nasal cavity lining, which causes symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, and sneezing.
• Sinusitis — An inflammation or infection of the sinuses that leads to facial pain, pressure, and nasal congestion.
• Taste and smell disorders — A group of health issues that can decrease or distort the sense of taste or smell.
• Polyps — Abnormal tissue growths in the nose and sinuses that lead to obstruction or discomfort.

Throat Conditions We Treat at UPMC

Throat problems can range from mild (a cough) to severe (throat or thyroid cancer). Common symptoms of throat issues include trouble speaking or swallowing, pain, and fever.

Some of the throat problems we treat are:

• Aphasia — A language disorder from damage to the brain's language centers that impairs speech.
• Cough — A reflex action caused by irritation or inflammation of the respiratory tract that expels mucus, irritants, or foreign particles.
• Dysphagia — Health issues that affect the throat, esophagus, or nervous system that lead to trouble swallowing food or liquids.
• Goiter — An enlarged thyroid gland that often results from a lack of iodine in the diet or certain health issues.
• Laryngitis — Inflammation of the voice box or larynx often due to infections, allergies, or overuse of the voice.
• Myasthenia gravis — A disorder that causes muscle weakness and fatigue due to a breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles.
• Tonsillitis — Swelling of the tonsils — often from a viral or bacterial infection — leading to sore throat, trouble swallowing, and fever.
• Throat cancer — A type of cancer linked to smoking, drinking alcohol, and an HPV infection that forms in the throat.
• Thyroid cancer — A cancer that affects the thyroid gland that alters hormone production and metabolism.

Other ENT Conditions We Treat

• Allergies.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
• Dizziness.
• Head and neck cancer.
• Neurologic disorders.
• Sleep apnea.

Make an ENT Appointment

Make an appointment today at a UPMC ENT location near you.