Got a sore throat? Or is it a lump? Did it start aching recently?
Are you unable to breathe through your nose? Is it blocked?
Do you feel there’s wax in your ears? Or finding it hard to hear things?
These are some of the frequent problems that impede the basic functions of the body that makes for a rich and wonderful lifestyle. When one or more of these functions are no longer functioning properly, lifestyle gets deteriorated and, in some cases, threatened.
Hearing, speaking, breathing, sleep issues, allergies, sinuses, etc., are some of the aspects that an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist treats. Professionally, they are known as “otolaryngologists”. It’s easier to just call them ENT and you can find one easily in an ENT Clinic.
What do ENT specialists treat?
ENT specialists treat a sundry range of disorders and conditions of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck area—from simple to severe, common to rare, small to big.
ENT specialists are not just medical doctors who treat sinus headache, swimmer’s ears or sleep apnea. But also, surgeons who specialize in performing serious operations to repair hearing issues, free blocked airways, remove neck, throat and head cancers and reconstruct essentials structures.
Some areas that an ENT Clinic covers:
• Conditions of the ear: You may need to visit an ENT doctor if you feel like you have an ear disorder, such as a hearing loss, ear infections, disorders that disturb balance, tinnitus, or pain in the ear. ENT specialists are capable of treating congenital (disorders from birth) disorders of the ear too.
• Conditions of the nose: ENT specialists manage and treat issues that affect the nose, nasal cavity, and sinuses. These problems can affect breathing, smell and appearance.
• Conditions of the throat: Conditions and disorders that affect the throat can affect speech, eating, swallowing and digestion. They can diagnose and treat such problems.
• ENT-related conditions of the head and neck: ENT specialists are capable of treating diseases, trauma, tumours and deformities of the head, face and neck. ENT specialists can perform cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery in these areas. They can also deal with neural issues in the head and neck that govern sight, hearing, smelling and facial movements.
Tests performed in an ENT Clinic
ENT specialists carry out diagnosis through multiple tests to look for abnormalities in normal or general functioning of the ear, nose and throat.
Certain tests that are performed to look for issues in several areas of interests are:
• Complete ENT examination: This includes a thorough inspection of the ear, nose, throat, face and neck. Examination for hearing loss and pressure testing to examine the eardrum (pneumatic otoscopy or tympanometry). The tests include examining the nasal septum and turbinate very closely. The nose is tested with decongestant nose spray.
• Audiometric testing: This test is usually performed with patients complaining about hearing loss, ringing or balance disorders. The OAE test is a screening test for normal hearing. Patients are made to sit in a quiet soundproof room and made to respond to sound that they hear in a headset. The sounds are emitted at different frequencies and decibels. A graph is created frequency-decibel scale called an audiogram.
• Nasal endoscopy: This is a test performed most commonly to diagnose nasal, sinus and allergy complaints. You are administered with a decongestant with local anaesthesia. The physician then slips a small telescope into the nostril to obtain a magnified view. Any septal deformities, abnormal swelling, nasal polyps and sinus drainage can be readily identified.
• Allergy testing: Mostly recommended for patients who are dissatisfied with the medical management of their allergies. Skin is injected with common allergens to determine sensitivity to them. Immunotherapy is then started with a safe and calculated dosage of medicine.
If you seem to be facing one or the other diseases that you read in this article, you must visit the nearest ENT Clinic and consult with the specialist to take care of your plight.
