Ear, nose and throat doctors in Portsmouth

The ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists affiliated with Portsmouth Regional Hospital have extensive training and experience in treating a wide range of ENT conditions. We provide advanced, personalized care designed to alleviate discomfort and return you to good health as quickly as possible.

Ear, nose and throat conditions we treat

You can rely on our specialists to diagnose and treat disorders, including:

  • Ear—Hearing loss, ear infections, balance disorders and ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Nose—Allergies, smell disorders, polyps and nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum
  • Throat—Diseases of the throat, larynx (voice box), voice and swallowing disorders
  • Head and neck—Infections, tumors, facial trauma and deformities of the face

Sinus infections

If you experience ongoing sinus infections—recurring infections or chronic sinusitis that lasts for at least three months—we can provide long-term relief. Portsmouth Regional Hospital offers minimally invasive sinus surgery, a highly effective technique that results in faster healing with less discomfort.

This procedure, known as stereotactic-guided endoscopic sinus surgery, uses a long, thin tube with a camera on the tip to pinpoint the precise location for surgery. With this approach, approximately 80 percent of patients find their condition completely resolved, and the remaining patients are able to reduce their use of medication significantly.

Allergy and immunology services

Allergies are the body's chronic, abnormal reactions to what are ordinarily harmless substances in the environment. Many things—including mold, dust, pollen, pet dander, insect stings and some foods—can cause allergic reactions.

Immunology is the area of medicine that deals with immune system disorders, including allergies, autoimmune diseases and immune deficiency. An allergist or immunologist is a physician with advanced training in the diagnosis, treatment and management of allergies and immune system disorders.

Common allergy symptoms

If you have an allergy, your immune system views the substance (allergen) that causes your hypersensitive reaction as an invader. Your body responds with a protective, chemical chain reaction that may produce symptoms, such as:

  • Itching in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat or eyes
  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy nose (congestion)
  • Runny nose
  • Tearing eyes
  • Dark circles under the eyes

For some people, allergies can also trigger symptoms of asthma, a chronic condition that causes inflammation or narrowing of the airways.

Dizziness and balance disorders

When our body's sense of balance works correctly, we barely notice. But maintaining balance requires complex, continuous and usually subconscious calculations between the body and the brain. Three different sensory systems—eyes, ears and special nerves in the muscles and joints—must work together to maintain equilibrium. Impairment in one system or more may lead to dizziness and the inability to remain upright.

At Portsmouth Regional Hospital, you'll find the help you need to handle challenges with balance and dizziness. With your doctor's referral for vestibular rehabilitation and balance assessment, our experienced rehabilitation specialists work with you to create a plan for treating conditions involving balance and dizziness, including:

  • Vestibular (inner ear) disorders
  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  • History of or significant risk for falls
  • Ongoing problems with balance or walking
  • Persistent or progressive dizziness
  • Dizziness caused by visual problems
  • Minor head injury
  • Dizziness originating after whiplash
  • Peripheral vertigo
  • Vertigo following acoustic neuroma resection
  • Meniere's disease

Balance and dizziness assessment process

Our highly skilled clinical specialists provide your initial evaluation through:

  • A detailed medical history to uncover information about potential sources of the problem
  • Visual screening to assess eye tracking, gaze stabilization, acuity and visual fields
  • Musculoskeletal assessment, cervical screening to define posture, balance while standing and moving, gait analysis, range of motion, strength and sensation
  • Positional and movement testing to assess your symptoms, response and potential areas of inner ear dysfunction
  • A series of recorded balance tests designed to determine limits to your stability, the extent of your balance control while moving and the interaction among eyes, ears and body sensory systems—referred to as computerized dynamic posturography

Dizziness and balance disorder treatments

Following our assessment and evaluation, you may receive recommendations for treatments and services, such as:

  • Individual vestibular rehabilitation helps you adapt to a problem in the vestibular system with specific exercises and positioning techniques to improve your ability to function, so symptoms are minimized or no longer experienced. For more permanent vestibular loss, you'll learn effective ways to compensate.
  • Balance rehabilitation and retraining creates your personalized home exercise program that may include postural stability exercises, transfer training, vision retraining, exercises to improve balance control in specific directions at varying speeds, weight distribution training, flexibility and strength training, agility drills and safety evaluations for home, work or sports.
  • Referrals to other specialists connect you to consultations with specialists in neurological care, a comprehensive hearing exam and/or a detailed visual field analysis.

Referrals to our vestibular rehabilitation program

Ask your doctor for a referral to our vestibular rehabilitation program. For more information or to make a referral, call Portsmouth Regional Hospital's Center for Rehabilitation & Wellness at (603) 433-4015.