Device for Eustachian Tube Dysfunction??? (The EarPopper)

Well, recently heard about a device called the EarPopper that can be used by both children and adults. It basically is a device that pops your ear for you, potentially helpful in kids with persistent middle ear fluid and who don't quite understand how to auto-insufflate their ears. It is also helpful even in adults who suffer from eustachian tube dysfunction. In any case, we'll see how effective this device is... Of note, they sell these on Amazon.com...

News Reports on ENT Topics

We have added a webpage that contains a running news feed from Medical News Today on ENT topics specifically. These news reports are gleaned from throughout the world. Check it out here!

New Audio & Video of Muscle Tension Aphonia After Speech Therapy Posted

Last week, we posted an audio & video sample of a patient who had muscle tension aphonia. Today, we have posted audio & video of the same patient (Example #4) after undergoing self-directed speech therapy. What a difference one week makes!!!

New Audio & Video of Bacterial Laryngitis Posted!

A new stroboscopic video of a patient with bacterial laryngitis has been posted. After hundreds and hundreds of patients I've evaluated for hoarseness, I've finally found one that is a bacterial laryngitis. In my experience, this type of laryngitis is quite uncommon.

Potential New Nasal Spray for Patients Suffering from Chronic Sinusitis

This blog is an OPINION and not medical advice. If there are any questions, please see your physician.

Accentia Pharmaceuticals is in the process of testing a new nasal spray called SinuNase which contains the active ingredient Amphotericin B. Why is this medication of interest to an ENT? Well, it would be one potential treatment for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis in which airborne fungus is the underlying cause of persistent sinusitis in spite of adequate antibiotic and surgical treatment.

This medication is currently undergoing Phase III FDA approval.

Device for Meniere's Disease and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

This blog is an OPINION and not medical advice. See your doctor with any questions.

Enttex is an Australian medical company that has introduced 2 devices for patients with ear problems. The first is the N300 used for patients with trouble equalizing their ear with pressure changes (ie, airplane travel) and the other is the P100 used for patients with Meniere's Disease. Honestly, from an anatomic standpoint, the N300 may work when going from low atmospheric pressure to high atmospheric pressure (ie, when the plane is landing), but not in reverse. The P100 is similar in principle to the Meniett device, but hard to say why or how it would work. In any case, though the concept is interesting, I am reserving my opinion on whether these devices actually work until studies have come out proving their mettle. Also, patient feedback would be nice.

The N300 device is available for purchase thru Amazon.com!

Potential New Device for Tinnitus Treatment

Fauquier ENT is now looking into a new device made by Neuromonics as a potential mode of treatment for patients suffering from tinnitus. Should it become available in our practice, we will make an announcement on this blog and on our website. For more info on this potential new mode of tinnitus treatment, please visit the manufacturer's website.

ADDENDUM: Given the cost for us to purchase and therefore the high (out-of-pocket) cost for patients to purchase (around $5000), we have decided not to offer this product at this time. At this time, University of Virginia is the only location where one can obtain this treatment.

Univ of Virgnia Contact Number:
434-924-2050

New Children's Mucinex Available

Mucinex in the past was available only for adults. However, mucinex has now been made available for children as young as 2 years old. It is available over-the-counter and should be used to help break up thick secretions in the chest, throat, or nose. For more info, please visit the muxinex website here.

New Section on Epistaxis (Nosebleeds) Available

A new section on how to control nosebleeds (also known as epistaxis) has been uploaded onto our website under the education section. Tis the season of nosebleeds with the colder and dryer weather.

New Section on Halitosis (Bad Breath) Added

A new section on halitosis (bad breath) has been added to the education section.

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Products found to be helpful treating halitosis:

Meniett Device Now Offered for Meniere's Disease Patients

Our office now participates in offering the Meniett Device as one potential treatment for patients with Meniere's Disease. If you are interested, please contact our office. Some insurance companies will pay for the device. Please call your insurance company to get cost estimates. Give them this HCPCS code E2120 and ICD9 code 386.00. More info can be found here.

The device apparently has been approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Click here to read more.

2 New Video Exams of Voice Disorders Posted!

2 new video exams of human voice disorders have been posted. The first video is muscle tension aphonia. The second video is an exam after posterior pharyngeal flap reconstruction was performed to correct a central velopharyngeal insufficiency.

New Patient Survey

Starting Dec 4, 2006, all patients will be requested to fill out a patient survey on how they would like phone calls to our office to be handled. Options currently being considered include keeping the current system of always having a person answer the phone (but downsides of being put on hold, busy signal, delayed response to questions, etc), leaving a voice mail (impersonal), email, vs other. Another question is how good we are with returning phone calls.

If some combo of options desired, even a PBX telephone system with menu options may be considered. However, please let us know what you the patients desire!

Office will be CLOSED for the holidays on NOV 23-24, DEC 25-26, & JAN 1, 2007!

Office will be CLOSED for the holidays on NOV 23-24, DEC 25-26, & JAN 1, 2007! Please plan accordingly, especially if you are a patient receiving allergy shots from our office.

No-Show Charge will increase to $50 starting March 1, 2007.

To avoid a no-show charge, please inform our office of any appointment cancellations at least 24 hours in advance. Same-day cancellations also will be subject to the no-show charge.

New Video of Viral Laryngitis Added!

A new video example of viral laryngitis has been added to the Laryngitis section.

Post-Thyroidectomy Instruction Sheet Added

Patient instructions for after thyroidectomy care has been added under the Services section. Click here.

Read more about the surgery here or watch the video!

Fauquier ENT News Archive Now As a Blog

To better search news that has happened at Fauquier ENT over the years, we have transferred all the postings into a blog format. We hope you like it.

New Handout on Voice Rehabilitation

A handout on voice rehabilitation for patients with vocal cord swelling/pre-nodules has been posted. Click here.

Volunteers Needed for Research Study on the Human Voice

Dr. Chang is looking for normal females & males between the ages of 18 to 50 without any voice problems for a study investigating the hoarse voice. There will be no monetary compensation. However, the entire voicebox exam performed can be burned onto a CD and given to the volunteer for their time.

THIS STUDY IS NO LONGER BEING PERFORMED!

New Video Example of VPI

Another video example of velopharyngeal insufficiency has been added to the Nasal Speech section.

New Article on Globus Pharyngeus

New section on Lump in the Throat (Globus Pharyngeus) has been added. Click here.

Website Update

Homepage & Education section has been reorganized.

New Article on the Mystery Chronic Cough

New section on Chronic Cough has been added. This webpage is NOT about the usual chronic cough due to asthma, laryngitis, cold, reflux, sinusitis, allergy, etc. Rather it is about the chronic cough for which no obvious reason exists. It is the mystery chronic cough. For some patients, this unusual type of chronic cough may be secondary to something called Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathy (also known as neuropathic cough or vagal neuropathy).

Click here to read more about it.

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Medications that may help a chronic cough due to reflux:

Google Search has been added to the Website

Google site & web search capabilities has been added to most of our webpages. Look for the magnifying glass at the top left hand corner.

Voicebox Images Added to VoiceInfo.org

Most of the material on our voice information part of the website contain video. However, such video does take time to download in order to view. As such, we have created a webpage where image stills (obtained from the videos posted) are organized into a photo album format for faster downloads. Click on the title to check it out!

New section on Zenker's Diverticulum has been added

New section on Zenker's Diverticulum has been added.

http://www.ZenkersInfo.org

Dr. Chang of Northern Virginia is one of only a handful of surgeons in the US who treats this rare swallowing disorder using a minimally invasive, endoscopic approach called Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy (ESD).

New Article on Fiberoptic Endoscopy Added

New section on fiberoptic endoscopy has been added. Click here.

Lecture on Spasmodic Dysphonia

Dr. Chang will be giving a talk on spasmodic dysphonia to the Central Virginia SD Support Group at the CJW Medical Center Johnston-Willis Campus in the Board Room in Richmond, VA (12PM - 3PM) on Sept 30, 2006. Click on the title for more info.

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Books on voice therapy found to be a useful ADJUNCT to botox injections:

New Educational Section on the Voice & Hoarseness with Audio and Video

See how the voice works and the various causes of hoarseness, voice spasms (spasmodic dysphonia), or nasal speech! Complete listing under the "Education" header. Click on the title to go directly to it.

http://www.VoiceInfo.org.

LECTURE: Your Voice: When It's Good and When It Isn't

Lecture to be given by Dr. Chang on May 11, 2006 at 7PM in Fauquier Hospital, Sycamore Room.

New Allergy Section Added

New sub-section on RAST, inhalant, and food allergy has been added to the Education section of the Website. Click on the title to check it out.

NEW Allergy Hours

Allergy shots may now be administered Monday and Wednesday mornings. However, Thursday hours have been shortened. Please view updated allergy hours below:

Monday: 8:00AM - 4:45PM
Tuesday: 8:00AM - 4:45PM
Wednesday: 8:00AM - 1:30PM
Thursday: 8:00AM - 4:45PM
Friday: 8:00AM - 11:45AM

No shots between 11:45AM and 1:00PM except on Wednesdays.

Case Report Published by Dr. Chang on Zenker's Diverticulum

Dr. Christopher Chang published a case report of a Zenker's Diverticulum treated by a procedure called diverticulopexy. The case report specifically deals with the image produced when the patient underwent a barium swallow. Click here to read all about it!

NEW Digital Voice Laboratory now offered at Fauquier ENT!

Allows for the ability to completely analyze the hoarse voice using state-of-the-art, fully digital, video stroboscopy incorporating 3CCD chip at the tip flexible laryngoscopy and/or rigid endoscopy with a 3CCD camera head. Patients also can now see what the doctor sees! Ability to take and record digital images and video as well.

NEW procedures offered for the new year!

We now perform cryotherapy as well as infrared treatment for a variety of skin lesions (actinic keratosis, telangiectasias, cherry angiomas, etc). Please ask for more information.