Category Archives: Ear, Nose, and Throat

ACENT’s Blog

What Is a VNG Test?

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Stefan Harris, BC-HIS

A videonystagmography, or VNG, is a procedure to evaluate dizziness and more accurately determine if the inner ear is causing it. This procedure typically requires a referral by an ear, nose and throat specialist (i.e., ENT, otolaryngologist) such as our Anchorage physicians, or a neurologist or physical therapist. You’ll also need to have a hearing evaluation prior to the procedure. During the procedure, the patient will wear a pair of virtual reality-like goggles with cameras to measure eye movements. These eye movements are called nystagmus, and they are related to the inner ear. The results also provide specificity of which … Continue reading »

Earwax: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Tammie Taylor

Being ear, nose, and throat specialists, we need to broach the topic of earwax with our Anchorage patients from time to time. It always starts with a simple truth: We all have earwax, some more than others. But did you know that earwax is actually good for your ears, and it keeps your ears clean?  Earwax, or cerumen, traps dust, dirt, and sometimes bugs. It’s held together by oil and wax from glands living in your ear canal. The wax also protects the inner ear and can stop bad bacteria from growing in the ear. (And you thought it was … Continue reading »

How to Prevent & Stop a Nosebleed

Posted on April 25, 2016 by LeighAnn Ivie

Epistaxis, or bleeding from the nose, is a common complaint among our ENT patients here in Anchorage. It is rarely life-threatening but may cause significant concerns, especially among parents of small children. Almost every person has had at least 1 nosebleed in his or her lifetime. Most nosebleeds are benign, self-limiting, and spontaneous, but some can be recurrent. There are 2 main types of nosebleed, and 1 can be more serious than the other. The first type is caused by an anterior nasal blood vessel rupture. This type of nosebleed originates toward the front of the nose and causes blood to … Continue reading »

Meet Our Physicians

Each of our physicians is board-certified in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and Dr. Ellerbe is board-certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.