ENT Insights and Blogs

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.

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.