Tinnitus Tinnitus is the perception of a sound, which does not have an external source. The commonest type is a high pitched whine or hiss, which may be intrusive and annoying and worst in quiet conditions, such as in bed at night. If mild, it may not be noticeable when there is background noise and…
Silent Reflux Also called Laryngopharyngeal Reflux or LPR LPR is responsible for the following symptoms in the throat, often without the person being aware of underlying reflux Hoarseness/Voice change Post-nasal drip Cough Excessive throat clearing Excess throat mucous A globus sensation (lump in the throat) Laryngospasm Mostly these patients don’t have heartburn, hence the term…
Vertigo and Dysequilibrium Vertigo refers to the sensation of spinning, which usually occurs in attacks. Dysequilibrium is the sensation of being “vaguely off balance” or swaying. Vertigo is usually due to inner ear problems including: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) Vestibular Neuronitis Meniere`s Disease Labyrinthitis These can be diagnosed on history and by examining the…
Pituitary/Skull Base Surgery The role of the ENT in skull base surgery is to provide access for the neurosurgeon to remove anterior skull base or pituitary tumours. These are usually benign tumours and a minimal access/keyhole surgery approach is ideal. Using a scope in the nose, the sinuses at the back of the nose are opened…
Surfer’s Ear and the Chisel Method Surfer’s ear is a condition caused by the repeated rinsing of the ear canal with exceedingly cold water, typically in cold water surfers, but also in other water sports, such as windsurfing, kiting and diving. The cold water stimulates the growth of the bone of the ear canal, usually…
Why do children need grommets? Grommets are small ventilation tubes placed into the eardrum. They are used if a child is getting recurrent ear infections or if there is a build-up of fluid behind the ear drums (glue ear), causing hearing impairment. The procedure is done under a general anaesthetic (or under local in the…
Sinusitus Sinusitis is usually divided into acute and chronic sinusitis. The natural history of acute sinusitis is that it develops around a week to 10 days after starting a cold. Pain in the cheeks, forehead and upper teeth are common as well as congestion and a blocked nose. There may be a fever. Unless there…
Snoring Vibration of the walls of the throat and the soft palate causes the snoring sound. Any narrowing or obstruction of the airway causes air to need to move through it faster, therefore causing vibration. Snoring is common and can be considered “normal” to a degree, however it may be a social problem or disturb…
Cochlear Implants A cochlear implant is an implantable hearing device for those for whom a hearing aid either no longer offers benefit or for those whose hearing is too poor to ever benefit from hearing aids. This includes new born babies born deaf and children or adults who have lost enough hearing to qualify. There…