Imagine your sense of smell disappearing out of nowhere. Or not being able to taste and enjoy your favourite meal. Or not being able to speak or listen. These are some of the functions we have that make life so full of meaning. Walking into a flower store and inhaling the floral scent or singing your heart out when it is karaoke night with your friends. Even little things like that can bring so much joy to our lives. But imagine slowly losing these senses, that is when you see an ENT specialist in Singapore.
You may be thinking, what exactly is an ENT specialist? ENT refers to the ear, nose and throat. In professional terms an ENT specialist is called an otolaryngologist. To summarise, ENT specialists treat almost everything from the collarbone and above, other than the brain and eyes. So some of the conditions an ENT specialist deals with are:
- Hearing and balance
- Breathing and sleep issues
- Allergies and sinuses
- Head or neck cancer
- Skin disorders
ENT specialists are not only medical doctors, they are also surgeons who can perform delicate surgeries to help restore hearing, open blocked airways, etc. To be able to do this, they have to undergo an additional 5 to 8 years of extensive training beyond medical school. Otolaryngology is considered one of the oldest forms of medical specialties.
General ENT specialists do not limit and focus their practice to one portion of the head or neck; they tend to be able to treat a variety of conditions. But there are still ENT specialists who pursue additional training in one of the following areas:
Ear (otology/neurotology)
You might not know this but hearing and balance is important to how we lead our lives, it is also connected to each other. These ENT specialists are called ear specialists. They can treat conditions like ear infection, dizziness, hearing loss and more.
Nose (rhinology)
Our noses provide air for our lungs so we can function by keeping out harmful dirt and allergens. These types of ENT specialists treat conditions such as deviated septums, sinusitis, nasal obstructions and more.
Throat (laryngology)
Conditions to our throat can affect the way we speak or the way we swallow. These ENT specialists treat conditions like sore throats, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), throat tumors and more.
Head and neck, also known as thyroid
These parts of the body include some of the most vital organs. These ENT specialists treat cancers in these areas, neck masses, parathyroid disease and more.
Sleep
Being able to sleep and breathe properly impacts how we go on with our daily lives. These ENT specialists treat nasal obstruction, snoring, sleep apnea and more.
Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
Facial trauma caused by an accident, injury, medical condition side effects or birth defects can be distressing. These ENT specialists treat drooping eyelids, hair loss, ear deformities and more.
Pediatrics
As children’s bodies and senses are still developing, they need special attention. These ENT specialists help treat birth defects of the head and neck, ear infection, airway problems and more.
To further break everything down, there are ENT specialists who are known for specialising in an individual condition. For example, sinus specialists and hearing loss specialists. These specialists have advanced fellowship training on the conditions they specialise in. Sinus specialists can treat people with serious sinu and nasal problems by using medication and/or surgery. While hearing loss Singapore specialists are typically associated with otolaryngologists/neurotologists.
Now we have talked about the conditions and different specialties there are being an ENT specialist. Let us move on to the 5 most common ENT conditions right here in Singapore,
1. Snoring and sleep apnea
You might think that snoring is caused by being too physically tired but that is where you are wrong. Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. This condition occurs when a person stops breathing for a short period of time when they sleep. It is caused by the throat muscles relaxing and blocking the airway. This condition can lead to more serious complications like cardiovascular problems.
2. Sensitive nose (rhinitis)
Sensitive nose refers to an inflammation of the nasal cavity. Some of the symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose and itchy eyes. Allergic rhinitis can be triggered due to being exposed to allergens in the air. Non-allergic rhinitis can be triggered by strong smells, temperature changes, hormonal changes or cigarette smoke.
3. Sinusitis
This condition occurs when there is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. This causes mucus to be trapped in the sinuses and can lead to bacterial infection. The symptoms can include thick or coloured mucus, facial pressure, reduced sense of smell and the nose being blocked and congested.
4. Tonsillitis
This condition is the infection of the tonsils. The tonsils are two oval shaped lumps of tissue found at the back of everyone’s throat. Tonsillitis can be recurrent and patients would have to get their tonsils surgically removed to reduce the frequency of getting it infected. Some of the symptoms are severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing and fever.
5. Impacted ear wax
Ear wax might not be as harmless as you think it is. Yes it helps to keep the ear canal clean and block it from water, foreign objects, injuries and infections. However, it can be harmful when there is an excessive buildup of wax that fails to clear on its own. This may cause people to have decreased hearing level, earaches or ear infections. Removal of the wax can be done under microscope guidance by an ENT specialist or hearing loss specialist.
If you have any of these symptoms or know someone that exhibits them, do not be afraid to go and get yourself medically checked. The ENT specialist will perform an examination on you to be able to help you. There are many professional ENT specialists in Singapore. It takes little to no effort to be able to source for a professional that will be able to work well with you.
Over at Novena-ENT, we have professionals such as thyroid specialists, children ENT specialists, throat specialists, ear specialists, sinus specialist Singapore and many more. Call to make an appointment today.
