An Ear, Nose, and Throat or ENT Doctor in Singapore play an important role in the field of medicine in the country. ENT doctors, also referred to as otolaryngologists, are a group of doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of ear, nose, and throat health disorders, as well as diseases affecting the head and neck, the salivary glands, and the sinus cavities.
Here are the common health concerns addressed by an ENT doctor in Singapore:
Ear Problems
Hearing Loss
- Conductive Hearing Loss: Occurs when the outer or middle ear blocks sound waves from reaching the inner ear. Causes include earwax buildup, ear infections, perforated eardrums, fluid accumulation, and tumors causing ear canal blockage.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Caused by inner ear or auditory nerve damage, preventing sound wave translation into neural impulses. Potential causes are aging, noise exposure, ototoxic drugs, genetics, head trauma, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases leading to gradual hearing loss and impaired brain sound processing.
Ear Infections
- Inflammations of the outer ear canal, categorized into:
- Middle Ear Infections (Otitis Media)
- Outer Ear Infections (Otitis Externa)
Dizziness and Balance Disorders
- Can cause light-headedness, faintness, dizziness, and unsteadiness.
- Possible causes include:
- Inner Ear Problems: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, and Labyrinthitis.
- Neurological Conditions: Stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, migraines.
- Cardiovascular Conditions: Low blood pressure and heart arrhythmias.
- Other Causes: Medications, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Additional Ear Disorders
- Earwax Buildup: Excessive earwax can cause hearing loss.
- Eardrum Rupture: Can lead to pain and hearing loss.
- Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing in the ears.
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Hearing loss from exposure to loud noises.
Nose and Sinus Problems
Sinusitis (Rhinosinusitis)
- Inflammation of the sinuses’ mucous membranes causing symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip, loss of smell, facial pain, toothache, headache, cough, fever, and fatigue.
- Causes include viral, bacterial, or fungal infections, allergies, nasal polyps, and deviated nasal septum.
Nasal Obstruction
- Caused by a Deviated Septum or Nasal Polyps (non-cancerous growths) in the sinuses or nasal passages.
Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
- Seasonal Allergies: Caused by pollen, mildew, or pet dander.
- Perennial Allergies: Caused by indoor allergens like dust mites.
Other Nasal Concerns
- Nosebleeds (Epistaxis)
- Fungal Sinusitis: A rare sinusitis form caused by fungal infections.
- Sinus Headaches: Triggered by sinus irritation or pressure.
- Loss of Smell (Anosmia)
Throat Problems
Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)
- Causes pain or irritation in the throat due to viral or bacterial infections, allergies, dry air, or irritants like smoke, pollutants, and certain foods or drinks.
- Symptoms include pain, difficulty swallowing, cough, runny nose, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, and body aches.
Laryngitis
- Inflammation of the larynx leading to swollen vocal cords and a hoarse voice.
- Symptoms include hoarseness, loss of voice, dry cough, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing.
- Causes include viral/bacterial infections, voice misuse, irritants (smoke, smog, allergies), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
Tonsillitis
- Inflammation of the tonsils caused by viral or bacterial infections.
- Symptoms include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, swollen tonsils, white patches, swollen lymph nodes, headache, and muscle aches.
- Common causes include viruses like the common cold or flu.
Sleep Apnea
- A sleep disorder with breathing pauses lasting seconds to minutes.
- Types of Sleep Apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Due to relaxed neck muscles.
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Caused by the brain’s failure to send correct signals to breathing muscles.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A combination of OSA and CSA.
- Symptoms include loud snoring, choking or gasping sounds, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, concentration difficulties, irritability, restless sleep, high blood pressure, heart problems, and stroke risk.
Lumps in the Head and Neck
- Lumps can be benign or indicate serious conditions like cancer.
- Diagnosis and Evaluation: ENT specialists investigate symptoms, medical history, and any recent illnesses or accidents.
- Examination Process: A thorough examination of the head and neck, including the mouth, throat, and lymph nodes.
- Imaging and Diagnostic Tests: Ultrasound, CT scans, MRI, and biopsy are used to visualize the lump and its surrounding tissues.
- Treatment Options: Observation, antibiotics, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, depending on the lump’s cause.
ENT doctors in Singapore provide the following services to those in need of medical help:
Diagnosis
By using advanced techniques and tools, ENT doctors in Singapore accurately diagnose the patient’s condition. These tools aid in the diagnosis of a wide spectrum of ear and neck disorders:
For visual examination, an ENT doctor in Singapore uses an otoscope, nasal speculum, laryngoscope, and endoscope (the otoscope examines the ear canal and eardrum, and the nasal speculum expands the nostrils to improve visibility; the laryngoscope examines the larynx and throat.).
For the ears, An ENT doctor uses different audiological testing instruments including an audiometer for measuring hearing sensitivity, a tympanometer for evaluating middle ear function, and an Acoustic Reflex Test for detecting reflexive muscle contraction.
Moreover, ENT doctors employ diagnostic instruments such as the Tuning Fork to assess hearing, Nasal Endoscopy to examine the nasal canal, CT scans and MRIs to obtain images of the head and neck, and laboratory testing such as blood and allergy tests to diagnose particular disorders.
Treatment
An ENT doctor, after diagnosing a condition, can provide a wide range of treatment options, including medication, surgery, and lifestyle modifications. Medication includes antibiotics, antihistamines, corticosteroids, pain relievers, decongestants, steroid sprays and surgical procedures include tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, ear tube placement, septoplasty, sinus surgery, tympanoplasty, cochlear implant surgery, ear surgery, vocal cord surgery, head and neck cancer surgery, and other treatments such as speech therapy, physical therapy, and allergy testing.
If you have ear, nose, or throat problems, speaking with an ENT doctor in Singapore can help you get the diagnosis and treatment you need to enhance your quality of life.
Dr Soma Subramaniam, MBBCH (IRE), DOHNS(ENG), MMED-ORL(NUS), FRCS-ORL(ENG), Consultant ENT Specialist and Surgeon
3212 Joo Chiat Place
#05–01 Parkway East Specialist Hospital
Singapore 427990
290 Orchard Road
#09-01 Paragon Medical Centre
Singapore 238859
+65 9856 8391
