Ear, nose & throat
Our board-certified ENT doctors are here to help treat ear, nose and throat conditions in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Knowing matters. We’ll get you answers and develop a treatment plan that’s backed by the latest research and medical technology.
Our ear, nose and throat specialists are here for you with personalized treatment options focused on your well-being, from birth to age 100 and beyond.
Almost everyone experiences issues with their ears, nose, sinuses, throat or voice from time to time. But what do you do when they keep coming back? Our otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors) specialize in treating simple, complex and chronic conditions of the sinus, ear, nose and throat – in children and adults.
Your ear, nose and throat are closely connected to three of your five senses. Even a small change to one of these senses can have a big impact on your daily life.
At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, we’re experts in treating chronic ENT conditions. Our ear, nose and throat specialists work closely with
With many
More treatments we provide
- Cosmetic surgery for the nose, eyelids and face
- Ear surgery, including
endoscopic ear surgery Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery - Head and neck cancer surgery
- Implantable amplification devices, such as cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs)
Nasal and sinus surgery - Sialendoscopy
- Sleep apnea surgery, including hypoglossal nerve stimulation (Inspire)
- Thyroid/parathyroid surgery
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
ENT conditions that we treat
Our ear, nose and throat doctors are experts in treating all conditions that affect the ears, nose, throat and mouth, for children and adults of all ages. Common conditions we treat include:
Ear
- Chronic ear infections
- Earwax buildup
- Hearing loss
- Perforated ear drum
- Swimmer's ear
Tinnitus - Vertigo and dizziness
Nose
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Deviated septum
- Loss of smell
- Nasal obstructions
- Nasal polyps
Nosebleeds - Sinusitis
- Snoring
Throat and mouth
- Cancer and tumors of the tongue, larynx, mouth and throat
- Chronic or recurrent strep throat
- Hoarseness
- Loss of taste
- Polyps or cysts
Sleep apnea - Speech problems
- Swallowing disorders
- Thyroid and parathyroid disorders (when surgery is needed)
- Tonsillitis
Common symptoms of ENT conditions
Taking care of our ears, nose and throat is an important part of our overall well-being. If any of these symptoms become chronic or recurrent and you’ve sought care from a primary care doctor, it’s probably time to visit an ear, nose and throat specialist.
Some common symptoms to watch for are:
- Breathing problems
- Chronic coughing, sneezing or sinus issues
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dizziness
- Ear pain
- Hearing loss
- Hoarseness
- Jaw pain
- Loss of smell
- Loss of taste
- Nosebleeds
- Ringing in the ears
- Snoring
Sore throat - Swollen tonsils
We provide a full range of ENT specialty care for patients of all ages. Depending on your medical situation, your ear, nose and throat specialist may recommend a specific treatment. These include:
- Ear surgery, including
endoscopic ear surgery - Evaluation and treatment of ear disorders
- Ear tube surgery
- Evaluation and treatment of nose and sinus disorders
Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery - Implantable hearing amplification devices, such as cochlear implants or bone anchored hearing aids (BAHAs)
Mohs surgery and reconstructionNasal and sinus surgery - Sialendoscopy
- Sleep apnea treatment and surgery, including hypoglossal nerve stimulation (Inspire)
- Snoring treatment and surgery
- Team approach to evaluate and treat head and neck cancer
- Team approach to evaluate and treat throat and voice disorders
- Thyroid/parathyroid surgery
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
- Treatment of facial, scalp and neck infections
Common ENT treatments
There are many conditions that might affect your ear, nose or throat. This means that there are also many treatments available for ear, nose and throat illnesses, including medicines, surgeries and the use of medical devices. We’ll work with you to determine the best treatment option.
Some of the more common procedures our ear, nose and throat doctors recommend to treat these conditions include:
Ear tubes
When someone has recurrent or chronic ear infections,
Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy)
We might recommend tonsil removal to treat snoring, sleep apnea, recurrent or chronic tonsillitis and other rare tonsil conditions, including cancer. We’ll talk to you about whether or not a
Sinus surgery
If you have chronic sinus blockages or drainage issues, we might suggest surgery to clear or open up the sinus cavity so it can drain better. A surgeon will use a scope to look at your sinus cavity through your nose. Then, your surgeon will use
Hearing aids
A hearing aid is a device worn on or in the ear that amplifies sound to make hearing easier. If your doctor believes a hearing aid is right for you, we’ll refer you to our
Implantable amplifying devices
Implantable amplifying devices are small electronic devices surgically placed inside the ear. These devices can give people who are hearing impaired the ability to hear again. These devices include cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs). Cochlear implants are helpful for treating sensorineural hearing loss, while bone-anchored hearing aids help treat conductive hearing loss brought on by an anatomical cause.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
If you haven’t talked to a doctor about your symptoms, many patients start with a visit to a
If you have an ear, nose or throat condition that doesn’t respond to standard treatment, you may be referred to an otolaryngologist for ENT specialty care.
Otolaryngologists partner with audiologists to treat hearing conditions like hearing loss and tinnitus. Audiologists are able to prescribe hearing aids and other assistive technologies. You may be referred to an audiologist if you have concerns about your hearing.
Otolaryngology is a medical specialty that focuses on the ears, nose, and throat. An otolaryngologist is often called an ear, nose and throat doctor, or ENT doctor for short. Otolaryngologists are trained in both ear, nose and throat medicine and surgery. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, it’s the oldest medical specialty in the United States.
We accept most health insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CIGNA, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, PreferredOne and many others.
Not sure what your insurance covers? Call the number on the back of your card for help looking at your options.
Don’t have your card in front of you? Here are member services numbers to help you get started:
- HealthPartners:
800-883-2177 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota:
800-382-2000 - CIGNA:
800-244-6224 (insurance through work);866-494-2111 (insurance directly or through the Exchange) - Medica:
800-952-3455 - Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (
1-800-633-4227 ) - PreferredOne:
763-847-4477 (in the Twin Cities);800-997-1750 (outside the metro area) - United Healthcare:
877-842-3210