Sanford Health

Medical Conditions

Sinus Infections (Sinusitis)

Sinusitis, commonly known as a sinus infection, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. Signs of a sinus infection can include a headache or pressure in the cheek area. A person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions.

Pollen Allergy

Allergies affect about 20% of Americans. Symptoms of allergies include itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, headache, fatigue and congestion. While colds are more common during the winter months, allergies are most common in the spring and early summer when plants are pollinating, although symptoms can be year round. Allergic symptoms may begin at any age.

Allergies cannot be cured, but symptoms can be kept under control. There are several methods of helping patients find relief including changing of a person’s environment, changing daily behaviors or activities and medication.

Hearing Loss

Someone who is experiencing a loss in their hearing may be able to hear some sounds or nothing at all. There are many reasons a person looses their hearing including exposure to loud noises, aging, a virus or bacteria, head injuries, tumors or even certain medications.

Do I have hearing loss? Ask yourself the following questions. If you answered yes to 3 or more, please call Sanford Clinic Ear, Nose & Throat and schedule an appointment today.

  • Do you have difficulty hearing conversations on a crowd?
  • Do you often turn up the radio or TV?
  • Do your ears ring or do you experience vertigo (spinning sensation)?
  • Have you experienced sudden hearing loss?
  • Are sounds muffled?

Hearing Aids

If you are having problems hearing, the most important thing you can do is see a hearing specialist called an audiologist. The audiologist will do several tests to try and determine why you are experiencing a hearing loss.

If it is determined that hearing aids will help you hear better, the audiologist will help you find the right one. You may have to try several hearing aids before finding one that works best for you.

Head & Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer includes cancer found in the nose and sinuses, larynx, pharynx, salivary glands, lips, floor of the mouth, gums, tongue or lining of the cheek. These cancers are more prominent in people over the age of 50.

Symptoms of head and neck cancer can include a lump or sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, trouble swallowing or a change in your voice. If you experience any of them symptoms, it is important that you call Sanford Clinic Ear, Nose & Throat at 605-328-8200 to schedule an appointment with Dr. John Lee.

Dr. Lee is specialty trained in the detection and treatment of cancers occurring in the head and neck area. This cancer specialty team will be further augmented by the addition of Dr. Chad Spanos in January 2009 who will be specialty trained in reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancers.

In addition to offering the latest in surgical treatment options for the head and neck, both Dr. Lee and Dr. Spanos actively try to better the treatment options for cancer patients by involving patients in clinical research. These trials will involve new medical therapies as well as involving patients in research studies that will examine how the cancers form in the laboratory. For more information on Dr. Lee, please click here.

Hoarseness

When a person notices a change in their voice, hoarseness is the most common symptom. It may be associated with a number of acute and chronic conditions and is a sign that something with the vocal mechanism is not working properly. Hoarseness could be caused by a simple chronic inflammation or laryngitis; however other medical issues could be the culprit. Therefore an individual should seek medical attention preferably by an ear, nose and throat specialist if he/she is hoarse for longer than a two week period. A diagnosis will be made regarding the cause of the voice disturbance which may include infection or inflammation of the vocal cords, vocal nodules, vocal polyp, carcinoma, vocal cord paralysis, etc. Therefore, it is important to be seen by a physician and receive appropriate treatment to get your voice back on track.

Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Snoring and sleep apnea are common conditions in both adults and children. Snoring is caused by a partially obstructed airway. As snoring becomes more obstructed, apnea may occur. Apnea is a pause in your breathing because your throat blocks when sleeping.

Your Sanford Clinic Ear, Nose & Throat physician will ask about your sleep, like how often you wake up, how sleepy you are during the day and if anyone has noticed pauses in your breathing. A physical exam will then take place to look at your airway to identify any areas of obstruction. Examples of an obstruction include the tonsils, adenoids or even parts of your tongue that could be blocking your airway. The nose will also be checked for nasal septal deviation and polyps.

After the evaluation, your physician will either suggest a treatment plan that will improve your breathing or further testing such as a sleep study.

After treatment we expect that patients will breathe freely, sleep restfully and feel better.

Ear Infections

Ear infections most often occur in the part of the ear called the middle ear. The middle ear is a small tube located just inside the ear drum and can become infected when germs from the nose and throat get trapped there. Infections often happen in young children because their tube is smaller and can get blocked easier by fluids from an infection.

When a patient is seen by a specialist at Sanford Clinic Ear, Nose & Throat, the physician will ask how the patient has been feeling. The physician will then examine the inside of the ear with a special lighted tool that let’s the doctor see the eardrum and any fluid that has built up.

If a child has chronic or repeat ear infections, the physician may suggest ear tubes.