Returning to School After a Tonsillectomy
Parents have a big job after their child comes home from a tonsillectomy procedure. Between keeping a medication schedule and encouraging kids to eat with a sore throat, recovery can be tough on children. Many parents wonder when it’s ok for kids to return to school following their procedure. This can be a difficult decision…
Why Sore Throats Cause Body Pain
Flu season is officially upon us, which is why everyone around you may be getting sick. It’s difficult to know what you could have, because conditions like the flu, cold, sinusitis, and strep throat share at least one or more symptoms. Still, when you develop a sore throat, some symptoms are self-explanatory, like a scratchy…
What Causes Sialolithiasis (Salivary Stones)?
Sialolithiasis is a unique condition that causes crystallized minerals to develop in the tubes that pass saliva, also known as the salivary ducts. While these stones generally cause no symptoms as they form, patients may begin to notice their existence after they reach a size that blocks the salivary ducts. When a blockage occurs, saliva…
Understanding Your Treatment Options For Chordoma
Chordoma is a cancer that can affect bone, cartilage, muscle, and other connective tissues. It is a rare cancer that is thought to arise from remnants of the embryonic notochord, which is a unique structure that serves as a protective scaffolding for the spinal column. The cells that make up this cartilage-like structure may undergo…
What’s Causing Your Loss Of Smell (Anosmia)?
More often than not, losing your sense of smell is a temporary occurrence that is directly related to a cold or the flu. Anosmia is an unusual condition that can cause the partial or complete loss of smell. In rare instances, a complete loss of smell can happen, which may indicate the presence of a…
When To See A Doctor For A Sore Throat
A sore throat is a common ailment usually caused by an infection from a virus or bacteria. If you’ve ever had a sore throat in your life, which is highly likely, you may have experienced symptoms such as a burning pain in the throat, difficulty swallowing or talking, swollen glands in the neck, and a…
Treating A Cholesteatoma (Ear Skin Cyst)
A cholesteatoma may sound harmless based on the description, but if it’s left untreated, damage to the inner ear bones can occur, causing complications such as permanent hearing loss, chronic ear pain, vertigo, and in severe cases, meningitis or a brain abscess. Patients should have their ears checked the minute they begin to experience the…
Why Your Voice Sounds Different On A Recording
Every once in a while, the team at AOC likes to answer frequently asked questions from patients who are curious about certain ear, nose, and throat functions. Today, we’re discussing why your voice sounds different on a recording compared to when you speak out loud. To best explain why this phenomenon occurs, you have to…
Treatment Options for Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy is a debilitating, yet temporary condition that causes partial paralysis to muscles in the face. Also known as facial palsy, this condition can occur to people of all ages. Currently, there is no known cause of Bell’s palsy, but experts believe the condition develops from swelling and inflammation that compresses facial nerves. Bell’s…
Conditions That Can Affect Your Voice
Relatively speaking, it’s normal to have a hoarse voice during cold, winter months when flu-like maladies are particularly prevalent. However, if you begin to notice a change in your voice or you become hoarse frequently, there may be an underlying condition causing these health issues. At AOC, we understand your voice is a powerful, often…