Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

perforation, deformities, movement, and signs of increased pressure in the middle ear such as bulging or fluid that suggests oti ...

P periodontal disease Inflammatory and some- times infectious damage to the gums. Periodontal disease causes gum tissue to reced ...

pharyngitis INFLAMMATION and irritation of the pharynx (the top part of the THROAT), often due to viral or bacterial INFECTION. ...

certain sounds and words, because the frequency range that is lost is that of conversation. Turning up the volume on the televis ...

R rhinoplasty Plastic surgery to repair or recon- struct the NOSE. Surgeons perform rhinoplasty operations for cosmetic and for ...

HEARING LOSSin the affected ear A tear in the tympanic membrane causes it to lose tension, which affects hearing as the breach ...

S salivary glands Structures within the MOUTHthat produce saliva, a watery fluid that mixes with food during chewing and maintai ...

nasal button, that fits into the perforation to cre- ate a temporary closure. Untreated septal perfora- tion results in frequent ...

sign language A nonverbal language that serves as a system of communication for people who are hearing impaired. Sign language u ...

regular X-rays, once the standard of diagnosis, because the results are not reliable. For chronic sinusitis the otolaryngologist ...

often experience general reductions in chemosen- sory perceptions. Physical obstructions The most common cause of taste and smel ...

tions are the most effective measures for protect- ing the chemosenses. Subclinical sinusitis (ongo- ing sinus infection that do ...

LOSS, neurologic conditions that affect control of the muscles of the face and throat, and brain injury are additional factors t ...

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) can provide added visualization of the throat and upper gas- trointestinal tract. Laryngoscopy ...

T toothache PAIN in a tooth or in the jaw. Toothache typically suggests DENTAL CARIES(cavities) or other dental problems. Dentis ...

occur at any age. Often, and especially in infants, doctors do not know what disturbs the balance to allow thrush to develop. Kn ...

dots. The infectious agent may be viral or bacter- ial; the doctor is likely to swab the throat to per- form a rapid strep test ...

V velopharyngeal insufficiency Inadequate clo- sure the velopharyngeal sphincter, a MUSCLEat the back of the soft palate, that d ...

The nerve cells in these structures send a continu- ous stream of signals to the movement centers of the brain, which in turn di ...

they were legitimate, instructing the body to react to movement that is not occurring or failing to direct reaction when there i ...