ENT Insights and Blogs

A blocked nose, constant sneezing, itchy eyes — many people put up with these symptoms for years, assuming it is just how they are. In Singapore, where house dust mite allergens are present year-round, allergic rhinitis is one of the most common conditions I see in clinic. Yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed — and undertreated. Yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss — a rapid, unexplained deterioration in hearing in one ear — is one of the few genuine ENT emergencies. Unlike many conditions where a wait-and-see approach is reasonable, sudden hearing loss requires same-day assessment and treatment. The evidence is clear: the sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of meaningful recovery. Delays of even a few days significantly worsen outcomes.

Bell's palsy causes sudden one-sided weakness affecting the eye, mouth, and cheek It is caused by inflammation of the facial nerve and affects around 20–30 per 100,000 people each year Steroids started within 72 hours significantly improve the chance of full recovery Most patients recover well with prompt treatment Bell's palsy causes sudden one-sided facial weakness — affecting the eye, mouth, and cheek on the affected side. Early treatment with steroids within 72 hours sign

Cholesteatoma is an abnormal collection of skin cells growing within the middle ear that, without treatment, progressively erodes surrounding structures including the hearing bones, facial nerve canal, and in rare cases the bone separating the ear from the brain. It is not cancerous but it is serious — surgery is the only treatment, and the earlier it is performed the less complex and more successful the outcome.

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose, equalising pressure and draining fluid. When it fails to open, the result is blocked, muffled, or pressured ears — especially noticeable during flights or after a cold. This is one of the most common ENT complaints. Treatment options range from nasal sprays to balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube.

The most common cause of sudden spinning vertigo — particularly when triggered by rolling over in bed or looking up — is BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), a highly treatable condition caused by displaced crystals in the inner ear. In most cases a single clinic visit and the Epley repositioning manoeuvre performed by an ENT specialist is sufficient to resolve it completely.

Glue ear — fluid behind the eardrum causing muffled hearing — is the most common cause of hearing loss in children and often goes undetected because it is painless and children rarely complain about it. Most cases resolve on their own within three months, but persistent glue ear affecting speech, learning, or behaviour warrants specialist assessment and may require grommet insertion.

Tinnitus — ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears — is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and in many cases a treatable underlying cause can be identified. Assessment by an ENT specialist aims to find and treat that cause, and where none is found, effective management strategies including sound therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy can significantly reduce its impact on daily life.

Earwax only requires removal when it is causing symptoms such as blocked hearing, tinnitus, earache, or dizziness. Microsuction — performed under direct visualisation using a microscope or endoscope — is the safest method of earwax removal and is significantly safer than ear syringing, particularly for patients with a history of ear surgery or perforated eardrum.

ENT problems in children can be subtle and are often mistaken for other issues. Common conditions include glue ear, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, recurrent ear infections, and speech delay related to hearing. This post helps parents understand which signs warrant an ENT assessment. Written from the perspective of a consultant with both clinical and personal experience as a parent.

Hearing loss in children is more common than many parents realise — and more consequential than it might first appear. A child who is not hearing well is not simply missing sounds. They may be missing the building blocks of speech, the ability to follow instructions, the social cues that come from conversation, and the classroom input that underpins learning.

Parents who bring a child to an ENT clinic with hearing concerns are usually expecting one of two outcomes: either a diagnosis of glue ear, hearing loss, or another treatable condition — or reassurance that everything is normal. What they are rarely prepared for is a more nuanced finding: that the hearing pathway appears to be functioning normally, yet the child's responses to sound are inconsistent or suggest reduced hearing.