Tympanoplasty: what should you know before and after eardrum repair?
When does a perforated eardrum need repair? Learn about assessment, alternatives, tympanoplasty recovery, follow-up and warning signs.
Read →VoiceHow long should hoarseness last before laryngoscopy?
Hoarseness after a cold or heavy voice use is often temporary. Arrange ENT assessment if the voice has not recovered within four weeks, or sooner for breathing difficulty, painful or difficult swallowing, coughing blood, a neck lump, referred ear pain or sudden complete voice loss. Do not self-start antibiotics, steroids or reflux treatment without establishing the likely cause.
Read →Paediatric SleepChild snoring and mouth breathing: when should adenoids be assessed?
Occasional snoring during a cold is not always dangerous. Assessment is appropriate when a child snores most nights, mouth-breathes, has witnessed pauses or gasps, sleeps restlessly, or develops changes in behaviour, learning or growth. Enlarged adenoids and tonsils are common contributors, but an X-ray alone should not determine the diagnosis or need for surgery.
Read →Hearing SafetyHeadphones and noise-induced hearing loss: how can you reduce the risk?
Noise-induced hearing loss can develop after one extremely loud sound or repeated exposure to loud music, headphones, machinery or traffic. Established damage is usually permanent but largely preventable. Warning signs include muffled hearing, difficulty following speech and tinnitus after noise. Lower the volume, shorten exposure, move away and use properly fitted hearing protection. Sudden hearing loss requires urgent medical assessment rather than watchful waiting.
Read →Sleep & AirwaySnoring or sleep apnoea: when should adults be assessed?
Snoring alone does not prove obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Assessment is important when a person has witnessed breathing pauses, gasping or choking, marked daytime sleepiness or morning headaches. OSA involves repeated narrowing or closure of the upper airway during sleep. History and ENT examination estimate risk; an overnight sleep study may be needed for diagnosis.
Read →SurgerySeptoplasty: what should you expect before and after surgery?
Septoplasty straightens a deviated nasal septum to improve airflow. It is usually considered when clinically important nasal obstruction persists despite appropriate non-surgical treatment. Temporary blockage, discomfort and mild blood-stained discharge may occur during recovery. Outcomes and recovery vary with the patient and procedure, and complete symptom relief cannot be guaranteed.
Read →Head & NeckAdult neck lump: when does it need urgent assessment?
An adult neck lump can arise from infection, thyroid or salivary disease, a benign growth or cancer. Most lumps are not cancer, but a mass lasting at least two weeks without a clear infection, enlarging, firm or fixed needs prompt assessment. ENT examination, endoscopy, ultrasound or contrast imaging and fine-needle aspiration help establish the cause.
Read →SinusChronic rhinosinusitis: when sinus symptoms last over 12 weeks
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is persistent inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Nasal blockage or discharge occurs with reduced smell or facial pressure for at least 12 weeks. Symptoms alone are insufficient: inflammation should be confirmed objectively by nasal examination, endoscopy or, when appropriate, CT.
Read →Paediatric ENTGlue ear in children: why can hearing fall without pain or fever?
Glue ear, or otitis media with effusion, is fluid behind a child’s eardrum without acute infection. It may cause fluctuating hearing loss, unclear speech, poor concentration or few obvious symptoms.
Read →VertigoDizzy when turning in bed? BPPV symptoms, tests and treatment
Brief, intense spinning after rolling in bed, looking up or bending may be BPPV. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals move into the wrong semicircular canal; an appropriate positional test and canalith-repositioning manoeuvre can relieve symptoms for many patients.
Read →EarSudden hearing loss in one ear: why it is urgent
A rapid reduction in hearing over hours to a few days—often with fullness, tinnitus or dizziness—should not be assumed to be wax or a cold. It may be sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), which needs prompt ENT assessment and a hearing test.
Read →NoseWhat should you do during a nosebleed? Correct first aid and warning signs
A nosebleed, or epistaxis, occurs when small blood vessels inside the nose break and bleed. Most episodes arise from the front of the nasal septum and stop with correct compression. Some bleeding, however, may be associated with trauma, medication, a bleeding disorder or another nasal condition.
Read →ThroatTonsillitis: causes, symptoms and care
Viral or bacterial inflammation of the tonsils can cause sore throat, fever and painful swallowing.
Read →ThroatTonsil stones (tonsilloliths)
Food debris, cells and bacteria may collect in tonsil crypts and form small white or yellow deposits.
Read →Paediatric ENTAdenoidectomy: when it may be needed
Removal may be considered when enlarged adenoids contribute to persistent nasal blockage, mouth breathing, snoring or middle-ear fluid.
Read →ThroatTonsillectomy: preparation and recovery
Tonsil removal may be considered for selected recurrent severe infections or sleep-related obstruction.
Read →Paediatric ENTTongue-tie: when treatment is needed
A short or tight lingual frenulum may affect feeding, tongue movement and sometimes speech.
Read →OralAphthous ulcers (canker sores)
Small painful ulcers inside the mouth usually heal on their own within one to two weeks.
Read →OralOral leukoplakia: why a white patch needs assessment
A persistent white patch that does not rub off may be leukoplakia; some lesions contain precancerous changes.
Read →OralOral candidiasis (oral thrush)
Candida overgrowth may cause white coating, soreness, altered taste or cracks at the mouth corners.
Read →Paediatric ENTCleft lip: coordinated care
Cleft lip occurs when the upper lip does not fully join during development and may affect one or both sides.
Read →Paediatric ENTCleft palate: feeding, hearing and speech
A gap in the roof of the mouth can affect feeding, middle-ear fluid, hearing and speech development.
Read →CancerOral cancer: warning signs not to ignore
Earlier diagnosis of cancer of the mouth, tongue, gums or lips can improve treatment options.
Read →NoseNasal obstruction: causes of a blocked nose
Allergy, a deviated septum, turbinate swelling, polyps, infection or rarely a growth can block the nose.
Read →NoseSinus operation (FESS): what to know
Endoscopic surgery may be considered for selected chronic sinusitis or polyps that persist despite appropriate medical care.
Read →NoseLoss of smell: causes and assessment
Viral illness, allergy, sinus disease, polyps, head injury, ageing or neurological disease can reduce smell.
Read →EarEar discharge: what to do
Canal infection, middle-ear infection, eardrum perforation or chronic ear disease may cause fluid or pus.
Read →EarHearing loss: types, tests and support
Causes range from wax to inner-ear damage and may produce conductive, sensorineural or mixed hearing loss.
Read →EarEar itching: common causes and safe care
Dry skin, eczema, fungal/bacterial otitis externa, allergy or hearing-device irritation can cause itching.
Read →Paediatric ENTMicrotia: ear development and hearing
Microtia means the outer ear is small or incompletely formed; the ear canal and hearing may also be affected.
Read →Paediatric ENTPreauricular sinus: a small pit in front of the ear
A congenital tract may appear as a small pit near the ear; it needs no treatment when symptom-free.
Read →Head & NeckBranchial cyst: a lump at the side of the neck
A developmental remnant can form a lateral neck cyst, often first noticed after infection.
Read →Head & NeckThyroglossal cyst: a midline neck lump
A remnant of the thyroid’s developmental tract can form a midline cyst that may move with swallowing or tongue protrusion.
Read →Paediatric ENTCystic hygroma (lymphatic malformation)
A congenital lymphatic malformation can form a soft, fluid-filled swelling, often in the neck.
Read →Paediatric ENTHaemangioma: an infant vascular birthmark
An infantile haemangioma may grow quickly after birth and often shrinks gradually later.
Read →ThyroidGoitre: causes of thyroid enlargement
A goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland; thyroid hormone levels may be normal, high or low.
Read →CancerThyroid cancer: from nodule to diagnosis
Most thyroid nodules are not cancer, but ultrasound and selected FNAC help assess risk.
Read →CancerLaryngeal cancer: hoarseness and warning signs
Persistent hoarseness is a common early sign of voice-box cancer; tobacco and alcohol are major risk factors.
Read →VoiceVocal-cord polyps and nodules
Voice overuse, irritation or trauma can produce benign vocal-fold lesions.
Read →VoiceVoice change: when to seek assessment
Colds, voice overuse, reflux, benign lesions, nerve problems, thyroid disease or cancer can alter the voice.
Read →What we assess
- Earache and hearing concerns
- Sinus, allergy and blocked nose
- Tonsils, voice and throat
- Childhood snoring and ear care
Assessment and care
- Evidence-informed patient education
- Symptom-specific red flags
- Links to relevant service pages