• best-ent-doctor-nyc
  • best-ear-nose-throat-doctor-nyc
  • best-ear-doctor-nyc
  • best-nose-doctor-nyc
  • best-throat-doctor-nyc

Dr. Michael Burnett Specializes in Problems of the Ear, Nose, Sinuses and Throat.

An ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) is a physician trained in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. They have special expertise in managing diseases of the ears, nose and nasal passage sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral cavity and upper pharynx (mouth and throat), as well as structures of the neck and face. ENT is the oldest medical specialty in the United States.

MIDTOWN EAST / UPPER EAST SIDE LOCATION
PLEASE CALL FOR SAME DAY AND URGENT APPOINTMENTS
NOT ALL AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS ARE LISTED ON ZOCDOC

212-867-4813

Category Archives: Ear Doctor

Are ENT Doctors Also Ear Doctors?

It’s one of the most confusing questions that usually have a relatively simple and easy answer. Are ENT doctors also ear doctors? Yes, ENT doctors are also ear doctors because that’s exactly what ENT stands for, i.e., ear, nose, and throat. As ear, nose, and throat specialists, ENT doctors deal with numerous types of ear-related disorders, diseases, and illnesses. They treat the head and neck, including the ear, nose, and throat but don’t offer any medical treatments or suggestions for brain-related diseases or conditions.

Are ENT doctors also ear doctors?

If you’re struggling with an ear-related health issue or disorder such as hearing loss, an ENT specialist is who you should visit for effective treatment. So, what kind of ear conditions, diseases, and disorders do ENT doctors help with? Find out more in this post as you read further!

What Ear Conditions Do ENT Doctors Treat?

ENT doctors treat a variety of health problems related to the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck of the human body. They offer medications, prescriptions, and surgical treatments for numerous ear diseases and disorders as well. Let’s take a look at the most common ear diseases, disorders, and issues that an ENT specialist addresses.

Tinnitus

It refers to a medical issue where a patient keeps hearing “ringing” or “buzzing noises” without any external source of such noises nearby. It’s a medical condition that can cause sleep disturbance, social anxiety (due to lack of interaction potential), and painful sensations in one or both ears. ENT specialists can diagnose and treat tinnitus.

Balance Disorders (Vertigo)

Vertigo and other forms of balance disorders are usually a result of the middle ear or inner ear infections that affect the brain’s balancing power. Due to excessive fluid buildup inside the ear, patients lose their balancing abilities and may even find it difficult to walk slowly in a straight pattern.

ENT doctors are also ear doctors
(Source)

Congenital Defects

These refer to birth defects, injury defects, and other forms of deformities that affect the ear, nose, and throat. ENTs can assess, analyze, and diagnose congenital defects in patients to provide effective remedies. However, in most cases, ENT specialists offer surgical treatments to correct birth deformities through reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries.

Common Treatments Offered by ENT Doctors

ENT doctors are also surgeons but confine their surgical skills to the treatment of diseases and disorders relating to the head and neck, including ear, nose, and throat. They typically perform a long list of surgeries for the said body parts. ENT doctors generally resort to complex surgeries when patients are struggling with chronic trauma, rapid tumor progression, or other forms of head and neck conditions. Also related to the ear, here’s a list of the most common surgeries that any general ENT specialist can perform:

  • Tumor removal (from head and neck)
  • Corrective and reconstructive (cosmetic) face surgeries
  • Tonsil removal
  • Nasal polyps removal
  • Sinus surgeries
  • Plastic surgeries

Are ENT Doctors Also Ear Doctors? Conclusion

To get comprehensive care for your ear, nose, throat, head, and neck issues, visit Dr. Michael C. Burnett at Ear, Nose & Throat of New York. Gathering an impeccable experience with tons of different accolades from reputable platforms, Dr. Burnett adopts a customized approach for his patients. He is an expert in offering individualized attention according to each patient’s needs.

Keeping track of patients medical records and offering effective medications/treatments as per the patients requirements are the main qualities of Dr. Michael C. Burnett at Ear, Nose & Throat of New York. Call us today at 212-867-4813 and get an appointment with an ENT expert today!

What Kind of Tests Does an ENT Doctor Do?

If you’ve never been examined by an ENT doctor before, it can be difficult to assess what you’ll have to go through during your first examination. Not knowing what type of test your ENT will perform can be frightening, but the fear can be alleviated once you know exactly what to expect. In this article, we’re going to explore some of the common tests ENT doctors conduct.

External Ear Inspection

One of the first things your doctor will do is inspect your external ear using various instruments. He will usually start by examining the outer ear canal with an auriscope/otoscope. He will also swab any discharge or wax coming from your ear.

He will then proceed to look for any signs of abnormality, such as abnormalities in the shape and size of the pinna to see if it shows any signs of trauma, extra cartilage tags, irregular lesions or neoplasia. He will also look for any signs of external ear canal inflammation and infection or any scars or signs caused by a previous surgery.

Internal Ear Canal Inspection

Your doctor will then proceed to check your inner ear canal for any irregularities. He will usually use a modern auriscope/otoscope with a light for the inspection. He will start by pulling your pinna backwards to clear way for the internal ear canal and straighten it for inspection. The doctor will look for things such as excessive wax, the general condition of the ear canal’s skin, any signs of discharge or any kind of foreign tissue. The ear drum’s mobility will usually also be tested using a pneumatic instrument. They will also check the condition of your tympanic membrane for any irregularity.

Nose and Throat Inspection

Your doctor will usually check for the function of your nasal pathways, airway resistance and in some cases, general sense of smell. He will check for conditions such as inflammation, sinusitis, and the position of the septum among other things.

When it comes to the throat, your doctor will proceed with a thorough examination using a torch. He will check the general condition of your throat and tongue, look for signs of inflammation of the throat and tonsils, palpate the tongue’s back for signs of a tumor, etc. He will also check the mouth’s floor for any mass or duct stones in the submandibular area.

Consulting an ENT doctor is capital if you’re experiencing any kind of repeated symptoms related to your ears, nose, throat or any part that is related to them. If that is the case and you live in the NYC area, contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best ENT doctor in NYC.

Contact us at 212-867-4813 to schedule a consultation.

Common Ear Ache Causes

Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists handle a variety of problems. Among children, earaches are among the most common conditions affecting them. Adults, too, can suffer from this health problem, but children tend to get earaches more frequently. This includes infants and not simply school age children.

What Are Earaches?

As the name suggests, an earache is a condition that causes pain inside the ear.  It may be a mild ache or a more severe pain. You or your child may require medical attention is the pain is severe and is accompanied by other symptoms including:

  • Dizziness
  • High fever
  • Severe headache
  • Swelling around the ear
  • Discharge from the ear e.g. mucus or blood
  • These may indicate the potential of a ruptured eardrum.

Common Causes of Ear Aches

The causes of earaches vary. Anything that creates the conditions for a buildup of fluid in the middle ear can result in an earache. Earaches are often the result of any of the following occurrences:

    • Ear Infection: This is the most common reason you or your child may have an earache. Although otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear), is the major cause of infection, the basis of the problem may differ. The medical condition may be the result of a viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial infections are easily treated with antibiotics; viral infections are not.
    • Earwax Buildup
    • Employing Cotton Swabs: Cleaning the ears with this or other devices, may damage the ear or create conditions causal factors in earaches. Never use sharp devices or anything that may harm your ears
      Foreign Object in the Ear
    • Pressure Changes: When you fly, the pressure may alter. This can result in a shift in fluid creating the conditions for an earache. The same may apply for climbing and other changes in altitude
    • Sinusitis: Infection of your nasal cavities or sinuses
      Strep throat
    • Water Trapped in the Ear: Any water or water-based product e.g. shampoo, that becomes trapped in the ear can create the discomfort known as earaches. Water may become trapped in your inner ear if you swim regularly. Infection may result if the water remains inside for an extended period or the water is contaminated with bacteria or other toxins

Many of these problems can occur during the course of your day. If you seem prone to earaches, it is important you take precautions to decrease the number of incidents. Be careful when you wash your hair and wear a swim cap or ear plugs if you swim. Talk to your doctor or ENT specialist about any measures you can take to reduce your risk of the pain from earaches.

Contact us at 212-867-4813 to schedule a consultation

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is an inner ear problem that affects roughly 32% of the American population and can be very debilitating depending on the severity. Tinnitus is a persistent ringing of the ears, which can be attributed to a variety of reasons. The severity of the condition can vary from person to person, from a barely noticeable ring to a persistent, loud, bell like sound. Let’s explore some of the symptoms, causes and treatments for tinnitus.

The Symptoms of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is characterized by the hearing of a persistent sound in the absence of other ambient sounds. These sounds can range from very mild to almost deafening depending on the condition. Most people will report a ring like sound on both hears or mild hissing. In other cases, they report a loud bell, buzzing or roaring sound.

This phantom noise can vary in intensity and can be experienced in either one or both ears. In some cases, people may be able to ignore it and live with it unencumbered. However, in some cases, tinnitus can interfere with their hearing and capacity to concentrate. Tinnitus can be chronic or come and go depending on the person.

The Causes of Tinnitus

There are mainly two types of tinnitus, objective or subjective. Objective tinnitus, which is the most common, is when only the subject can hear the sound. This may be caused by a variety of reasons such as problems in your inner, middle or outer ear. Tinnitus can also be caused by issues with your auditory nerves or in your brain’s auditory pathways.

Subjective tinnitus, which is much more rare, is when the ringing can also be heard by a doctor during examination. This form of tinnitus can be due to a problem involving your blood vessels or middle ear bone.

Factors contributing to tinnitus may include repeated or sudden exposition to loud noises, or inner ear and upper respiratory infections like a cold, for instance.

The Treatments for Tinnitus

Your doctor may first try to identify underlying conditions which may be at cause for your tinnitus. For example, he may remove some excess wax in your ears or recommend that you switch or stop antibiotics altogether if they’re at fault. He may also treat any condition related to your blood vessels.

There is no medical procedure that can get rid of tinnitus completely, but things such as white noise devices can be used to reduce the severity of the noise. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a Tricyclic antidepressant to reduce the intensity of noises as well. But that is usually reserved for extreme cases.

When Should I See a Doctor?

If your symptoms are severe and persistent, you should consult a doctor right away. Also, if the tinnitus appeared after an incident, if would be wise to consult an ENT doctor to see if any severe damage was done to the eardrums. If you’re living in the NYC area and you’re suffering from tinnitus, contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best ENT doctor in NYC.

Contact us at 212-867-4813 to schedule a consultation.

How To Keep Your Ears Healthy

Once you damage your ability to hear, you can never get it back entirely. While hearing aids may be able to help you recapture some of your hearing, it cannot return your hearing to the level it once was. This is why it is essential to keep your ears healthy. This is not a difficult or time-consuming thing for you to do. All it requires is you adhere to a few simple rules and consider following the three simple recommendations listed below.

Keep the Sound Down

If you want to keep your ears healthy as long as possible, it is important to keep the sound down/ too often, the volume of devices are placed at the highest level possible. This means they are blasting unfiltered directly into your ears via your headphones. Earbuds, while they bring you closer to the music you love, also threaten to harm your ears more seriously than headphones. The result for many teenagers will be degrees of hearing loss that will come sooner rather than later.

The same applies to any loud music. If you have control over the volume at a party, try to restrict the levels. It should be loud enough to enjoy, but not so noisy as to drown out any attempts at conversation.

Limit Exposure to Loud Noises

It is often impossible to escape loud noises in either urban or rural environments. Work may be cacophonous, construction may be happening outside your home. You may like to attend loud concerts. Mowing the grass or using some equipment such as chain saws exposes your ears to loud sounds. All may take you over what is considered the safe decibel (dB) limit of 85 dBs. While the noise may prevent little risk occasionally or if exposure is for a short time period, extended period present a risk to your hearing.

If you want to keep your ears healthy, decrease the exposure to loud noises. Either stay away from situations or wear earplugs. If you require earplugs for your job or need them regularly, try to purchase tailor-made ones. If you only use them occasionally, simple mass-marketed earplugs or ear defenders may be more effective and affordable.

Let a Professional Clean Out your Ears

We are all guilty of it. Our ears are bothering us. They feel dirty or plugged. We use our fingertips or take a cotton swab and stick it in our ear. Anytime you insert an object into your ears, you can cause damage to the components of your ear – particularly the eardrum. Do not attempt to clean your ear. If they feel clogged with dirt or water, talk to a professional about an ear wash or have a professional clean them.

Keeping Your Ears Healthy

Your hearing needs to last you forever. While it will fade as you age, let it do so naturally. Protect your ears as much as possible. If you do not do so, you will live to regret it.

Contact us at 212-867-4813 to schedule a consultation

ENT Doctor for Hearing Loss

For those struggling with hearing, one thing is very commonly asked. Who should you go to when you need to get your hearing tested? Going to an ENT doctor for hearing loss can be a very good decision for a variety of reasons. Often times, the first step is having a family doctor determine that there is a need for further testing, especially if that hearing loss is found in children. However, you do not have to wait for your family doctor to tell you to visit an ear, nose, and throat doctor. You can come in to see our team at any time especially if you believe there is an immediate need.

What Is the Cause?

Often times, the first step is to determine if any level of hearing loss is present. To do this, a number of tests are necessary. These are all noninvasive tests that look at the specific level of hearing you may or may not have. In addition, a physical exam is conducted to determine if the structure of the inner ear is normal or if there is any sign that there is damage or a poorly deformed interior ear that is causing these concerns.

It is not always possible to understand the underlying causes of hearing loss. In some situations, the cause is not known. However, there are still treatment options available for some people at this level.

The cause could be a number of factors including deformities in the structure of the ear. An ENT doctor for hearing loss is often called in when there are specific concerns related to the health of the year, especially when chronic ear infections occur or when there is pain in the ear. Your doctor will work with you to understand the symptoms you have so that the right steps can be taken to treat it.

Getting Hearing Help

When you come in to see an ENT doctor for hearing loss, the most common question is – how can this help me? There are a variety of treatment options available including repairing the ear or the use of amplification devices. In most cases, you will learn about potential treatments as soon as you visit.

Take a few minutes to pick up the phone and call our offices today at 212-867-4813. Make an appointment for a consultation with the best ENT doctor in Manhattan, New York, today.

Doctor for Ear Ache

Many children and adults face the need for a trip to the doctor’s office for an earache. They can be quite painful and, in some cases, they can lead to infections that damage hearing. Though a family doctor can offer basic care and antibiotics, it is sometimes necessary to turn to a specialist when you are facing more chronic conditions, extreme pain, or a condition that does not seem to improve quickly. This is true for both adults and children. An ENT doctor for earache care can be essential.

What Is an Earache?

An earache occurs for various reasons and the term is commonly used to describe any type of pain in the inner ear. Generally, it can be a dull or s
harp pain. It can also feel like a burning sensation. It can occur in just one ear or both. Most of the time the pain will last a short time, but it can be an ongoing problem as well. There are various conditions that can cause this to occur including:

  • Otitis media
  • Malignant otitis externa
  • Swimmer’s ear
  • What Are the Symptoms of an Earache?
  • The symptoms may include:
  • Ear pain of any type
  • Fussiness from pain (common in children and babies)
  • Fevers
  • Irritability
  • Increased crying in infants

In some cases, children will pull on the ear that hurts, communicating the pain in that manner. In adults, the symptoms can include pain but also a loss of hearing ability.

The underlying causes of an earache need to be determined. This is when an ear, nose, and throat, or ENT doctor is often necessary. These specialists will work to determine the underlying cause based on the length of the problem, the intensity or severity of the pain, the location of the pain, and the physical features of the inner ear. Ear injuries and pressure changes can also be a problem. In some cases, such as when the pain is quite sharp, a hole in the eardrum could be the cause.

When you call an ENT doctor for earache pain, he or she will work with you find a solution to the problem. The key is to turn to these professionals as soon possible to prevent damage to hearing and to find relief.

Call our Manhattan, New York offices at 212-867-4813 for the best ENT in the area for earache pain and discomfort.

Ear Wax Removal

Earwax ENT

Earwax, known as cerumen, is a natural part of your body’s defense against bacteria and dirt in the ear canal. It usually washes away naturally, but sometimes it may block your ear, and in these cases, an ENT doctor can simply and safely remove the earwax and open up the ear canal. Dr. Burnett, one of New York’s leading ENT specialists, can solve this problem quickly in an office visit.

Symptoms of Earwax Blockage

In most cases, people don’t notice their earwax, but if you have a blockage you may experience an earache or ringing in your ear, known as tinnitus. Sometimes, the ear that is affected can feel full, and your hearing may be decreased. If you are experiencing these symptoms of earwax blockage, you should see a top New York ENT doctor for earwax removal.

Why Should I See an ENT Doctor?

ENT doctors are specialists in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. Although you may be tempted to try to remove your earwax at home, the symptoms you are experiencing may be the result of another, more serious condition. Also, if you try to remove earwax at home,  you may puncture or damage one of the delicate structures of the ear, like the ear canal or the eardrum. Placing an object into your ear to remove excess earwax can be very dangerous, and if you are having any pain or drainage from the ear, only a physician can properly determine the cause of your problem. If you try to dig out the earwax with a Q tip or a hairpin, you may even push the wax further into the ear canal, causing damage. An ENT doctor can examine your ear with an otoscope, which will light and magnify the structures of your ear.

Treatment of Earwax Blockage

Dr. Burnett, a top New York ENT doctor, removes excess earwax with a curette, which is a small, curved instrument. Sometimes, suction is used to remove earwax, but it must be done while the doctor is looking carefully into the ear. Finally, sometimes your doctor may flush out wax buildup using a device like a bulb-syringe or a water pick that is filled with warm water.

When earwax builds up repeatedly, Dr. Burnett sometimes recommends that patients use a medication that helps maintain an open ear canal. Debrox, which is carbamide peroxide, is often prescribed for patients with recurrent earwax blockage to use every four to eight weeks to prevent buildup. These drops can irritate the lining of the ear canal and the eardrum, so they should only be used in consultation with your physician.

If you are troubled by excess cerumen, or earwax blockage, you should call today for an appointment with Dr. Burnett, one of the city’s top ENT doctors. Call us at 212-867-4813 to schedule your appointment for earwax removal.

Vertigo

What is Vertigo?  Vertigo is a word that is used to describe an unpleasant sensation of dizziness that may make you feel like you are spinning, or you may feel like the room is spinning around you. If you have symptoms of vertigo, you should see one of New York’s top ENT doctors, Dr. Burnett,… Continue Reading

Ear Infection

Ear infections are the most common childhood infection requiring antibiotics, and Dr. Michael Burnett, one of New York’s top Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctors, sees many patients in his practice who developed inflammation or infection of the middle ear. A middle ear infection refers to an infection that affects the ear drums, and frequently… Continue Reading

Michael C. Burnett, MD

115 East 57th Street
(Between Park + Lexington Ave.)
Suite 600
New York, NY 10022

212-867-4813