Archive for otolaryngology
Life-changing second opinion for laryngeal cleft helps Tyler thrive
When Brittany Browne was in school to become a speech language pathologist, she briefly learned about a type of congenital defect called a laryngeal cleft. “We were told it’s so rare that we’d probably never encounter one in practice and didn’t really need to know about it,” she recalls. Yet years later, as her young ... Read More
Creating hairy human skin: Not as easy as you think
Key takeaways· Scientists have created the first cultured human skin capable of growing hair embedded with fat and nerve cells. · Potential applications include burn treatments, and testing medications and cosmetics· The skin organoid system developed is a proof of concept for creating other human organoids, such as the inner ear. For more than 40 ... Read More
Otolaryngology care during the COVID-19 pandemic
With the rapid spread of COVID-19, health care institutions around the globe have quickly revised their standard practices and policies to address the crisis. Protecting clinicians from infection is more critical than ever, particularly in high-risk fields such as otolaryngology. Yet the lack of clear guidelines and shortages of testing materials and personal protective equipment ... Read More
Dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders in children
Dr. Jacob Brodsky, MD, FAAP, is the director of the Balance and Vestibular Program in the Boston Children’s Hospital Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, as well as an assistant professor in the Department of Otology and Laryngology at Harvard Medical School. Imagine that you wake up one morning and the world around you is spinning rapidly as if ... Read More
Feeding and growth difficulties in children: When to refer
Parents are bombarded with so much online information about the best ways to feed their children the nutrients they need to ensure they grow to the best of their potential. As we know, not everything they read is helpful or even accurate. The best thing you can do for your patient families is regularly plot ... Read More
How things work: Scientists find cellular channels vital for hearing
Ending a 30-year search by scientists, researchers have identified two proteins in the inner ear that are critical for hearing, which, when damaged by genetic mutations, cause a form of delayed, progressive hearing loss. The proteins are essentially transducers: They form channels that convert mechanical sound waves entering the inner ear into electrical signals that ... Read More