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What an ENT Doctor Treats
An ENT doctor — formally an otolaryngologist — treats conditions of the ear, nose, throat and the wider head and neck region. Uniquely among specialities, the same doctor provides both medical treatment and surgery.
This page lists what falls within ENT care, organised by region, so you can find your symptom quickly.
Ear Conditions
Hearing
- Hearing loss, gradual or sudden — sudden loss in one ear is a medical emergency
- Otosclerosis, treated by stapedectomy
- Age-related hearing loss and hearing aids
- Severe or profound loss requiring a cochlear implant
- Newborn hearing screening
Infection and structural problems
- Ear infections — otitis media and otitis externa
- Chronic ear discharge
- Perforated eardrum, repaired by tympanoplasty
- Cholesteatoma, treated by mastoidectomy
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Impacted ear wax
- Grommets for glue ear in children
Balance and noise
- Tinnitus — ringing in the ears
- Vertigo and dizziness
- BPPV and the Epley manoeuvre
- Ménière's disease
- Vestibular neuritis and vestibular migraine
Nose and Sinus Conditions
- Chronic sinusitis that keeps returning, treated by FESS
- Nasal polyps and polyp removal
- Deviated septum, corrected by septoplasty
- Allergic rhinitis and turbinate reduction
- Fungal sinusitis
- Nosebleeds
- CSF leak — clear fluid dripping from the nose
- Loss of smell
Throat, Voice and Swallowing
Throat
- Pharyngitis and sore throat
- Recurrent tonsillitis and tonsil surgery in children
- Peritonsillar abscess (quinsy)
- Enlarged adenoids
- Globus — a lump-in-throat sensation
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux (silent reflux)
Voice
- Hoarseness that will not resolve
- Vocal cord nodules and polyps
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Spasmodic dysphonia
- Voice restoration after laryngectomy
Swallowing and airway
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Swallowing problems after stroke
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Tracheal stenosis and subglottic stenosis
- Tracheostomy care
Sleep and Snoring
- Snoring — causes and when to see an ENT
- How to stop snoring
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Surgical alternatives when CPAP is not tolerated
- Tongue base reduction and UPPP
Head and Neck
Lumps and glands
- Neck lump — when to worry
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Tuberculous lymphadenitis (TB neck nodes)
- Deep neck space infection
Thyroid and parathyroid
Cancer and tumours — these are managed by a head and neck oncosurgeon, a sub-speciality within ENT with its own super-speciality training (MCh, Head & Neck). At THANC this is led by Dr. Vidhyadharan S and the head and neck surgery team, not by general ENT.
- Head and neck cancer symptoms and early signs
- Oral cancer and tongue cancer
- Throat cancer and HPV-related throat cancer
- Salivary gland tumours
- Skull base tumours
- Leukoplakia — white patch in the mouth
- A mouth ulcer that will not heal
Symptoms That Warrant a Consultation
Book an ENT consultation for any of the following:
- Hearing loss, or ringing in one ear
- Blocked nose or sinus symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks
- Voice change lasting more than three weeks
- A neck lump present for more than two to three weeks
- A mouth ulcer or white patch that has not healed in three weeks
- Difficulty or pain on swallowing
- Snoring with pauses in breathing or daytime sleepiness
- Recurrent throat or ear infections
- Persistent dizziness or imbalance
Seek emergency care for sudden hearing loss in one ear, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled nosebleed, an inhaled foreign body, or coughing up blood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an ENT doctor treat?
An ENT doctor treats conditions of the ear, nose, throat, and the head and neck region — including hearing loss, ear infections, sinusitis, nasal blockage, tonsillitis, hoarseness, swallowing difficulty, snoring and sleep apnoea, neck lumps, thyroid disease, and cancers of these regions.
Does an ENT doctor treat throat problems only, or the ears too?
All three regions. ENT is a single speciality covering the ear, nose and throat, because these structures are connected and disease often spreads between them — a nasal allergy, for example, commonly causes ear pressure.
When should I see an ENT doctor?
See an ENT specialist if you have hearing loss, nasal blockage lasting more than 12 weeks, hoarseness beyond three weeks, a neck lump persisting more than two to three weeks, difficulty swallowing, or snoring with breathing pauses. Sudden hearing loss in one ear needs urgent attention.
Does an ENT doctor perform surgery?
Yes. ENT is both a medical and a surgical speciality. The same specialist may treat a sinus infection with medication and, if it does not resolve, perform endoscopic sinus surgery.
Can an ENT doctor treat sleep apnoea?
Yes. ENT specialists diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea and treat the anatomical causes of airway obstruction. Options include nasal surgery, palate and tonsil surgery, tongue base reduction, and jaw advancement — often considered when CPAP is not tolerated.
Is an ENT doctor the right specialist for thyroid problems?
For thyroid surgery, yes. Head and neck surgeons within ENT routinely perform thyroidectomy and parathyroid surgery. Hormonal management of thyroid disease is usually handled by an endocrinologist, and the two work together.
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