Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

An audiologist is a doctor whose specialty is to assess, diagnose and treat balance, ear or hearing conditions.

The audiology service at BIDMC offers patients a full range of hearing-aid products, including state-of-the-art digital technology. We also offer a wide array of adult hearing tests, hearing aid fittings and other surgical and non-surgical methods to evaluate, diagnose and treat common ear problems.

Cochlear implants are electronic devices that can help restore hearing for some patients with significant hearing loss.

A laryngologist is an ENT doctor whose specialty is to assess, diagnose and treat conditions that affect the larynx (voice box). These conditions can affect your voice, upper airway or ability to swallow.

The Laryngology section within the Division of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery cares for adults with common and rare voice disorders. This includes both non-professional and professional voice users, such as singers and public speakers.

Our fellowship-trained laryngologist leads a team that uses the latest technologies to provide advanced evaluation, diagnosis, and medical, surgical and behavioral treatments. We provide comprehensive, individualized care.

If you have allergies, sinus or nasal conditions, a rhinology specialist can help. A rhinologist is an ENT doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. A rhinologist can give you an accurate diagnosis if you suffer from nose, sinus or allergy problems. We’ll create a customized treatment strategy to help improve your quality of life.

Nose and sinus issues are often associated with sinusitis and other disorders, such as asthma and allergic or non-allergic nasal obstruction. Nasal polyps, headaches and various other types of allergies also cause nose and sinus issues.

From the simplest nose and sinus problem to the most complex, our specialists provide patients with timely expertise. Our team offers various types of allergy testing and diagnostic services to evaluate, diagnose, treat and manage sinonasal disorders. We also can treat a deviated septum, a condition that occurs when the thin wall that separates your left and right nasal passages is displaced to one side.

Our Sinonasal Disorders Service also:

• Diagnoses allergies affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses. 
• Performs surgery to treat nasal obstruction and acute or chronic sinusitis. 
• Performs allergy testing, allergy shots, and sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops and tablets)
• Offers revision surgery for chronic sinusitis. 
• Manages allergic and non-allergic nasal obstruction.
• Performs nasal valve collapse and septoplasty.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder resulting in poor sleep and snoring. Our otolaryngology services provide evaluation and management of these disorders. Often, the team will order sleep studies and work in conjunction with our medical sleep team. Initial diagnosis will involve a detailed history and comprehensive upper airway evaluation to look for causes of obstruction and identify potential treatments.

We provide surgical treatment for sleep apnea including tonsillectomy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, hyoid suspension (Airlift) and hypoglossal nerve stimulator implantation (Inspire).