I will briefly address four often asked questions in this blog and four in the next.
- THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING HEALTH
The youth these days often listen to very loud music and can also take part in recreational activities like hunting. They have very little idea as the long-term potential damage to the inner ear and the subsequent debilities including depression and isolation. Regular testing may detect a treatable cause and early hearing assistance will help preserve residual hearing.
2. ALLERGIES AND ENT HEALTH
Allergic disease effects every aspect of the Ear, Nose and Throat system and is often perennial (throughout the year). Seasonal exacerbations during pollen seasons can recur. Sometimes it is easy for the patient to identify the allergen for instance, cat fur which can then be avoided. Many allergens however are multiple and not easily identified or avoided. The ingested allergens are rarer and usually occur in the young child. Management with the new anti-histamines to be used when necessary and possibly moving onto cortico steroid nasal sprays.
3. NEW ADVANCES IN ENT TREATMENT
Technology is advancing rapidly in ENT and it is essential that we keep up to date. In the ear, the new trends are implantable hearing aids including Cochlea implants, Vibrant Sound Bridge and the BAHA (Bone Bridge). The middle ear bones can also be replaced with prosthesis made out of titanium. In the nose, the major advance is Navigation Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery where a 3D image is created and used for accuracy and safety during surgery. In the throat, the latest advance is the Coblation Wand which can either be used to remove tonsils or even on the larynx. This is a low heat plasma wand. Other advances in Head and Neck surgery include nerve monitoring as many of the tumours are in close proximity to, for instance, the facial nerve.
4. HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ENT SPECIALIST
Most Ear Nose and Throat Specialists are General ENT’s but some have specialized and concentrate on a single discipline, e.g. Rhinoplasty. These Specialists are normally found the bigger centres. Other ways of choosing the correct ENT Specialist is to see how many years they have been in practice and their social media profile on Face Book and their Webpage.