ETN Specialist
Doctor Guru's Featured ETN Specialists in Singapore
Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Specialist:
What are the roles of an ENT Specialist?
An ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) is a doctor who specializes in the surgical & medical management of issues related to the ears, the nose & the throat, an ENT specialist may also deal with disorders related to head & neck structures.
What does the specialty cover?
The ENT specialty covers issues related to the following parts of the body:
The Ear:
Medical & surgical treatment of:
- Ear infections
- Hearing diseases
- Sensory balance disorders – Giddiness, spinning sensation
- Facial nerve disorders – Tingling of face, pain in the cheek area
- Cranial nerve diseases
- Treatment of congenital issues
- Management of Cancerous conditions arising from the outer or inner ear
The Nose:
Medical & surgical treatment of:
- Sinusitis – Heavy head & associated headache
- Nasal polyps
- Hole in the nasal septum
- Thickening of the nasal turbinate (turbinate hypertrophy)
- Allergies
- Disturbances with smell
- Rhinitis (running nose)
- Respiratory issues related to nose & paranasal sinuses
- Cancerous conditions related to the nose
The throat:
Medical & surgical treatment of:
- Issues related to upper respiratory and digestive tract, upper pharynx (mouth and throat)
- Throat pain & swallowing
- Tonsillitis
- Larynx (the voice box)
- Cancerous conditions of the throat and tongue
Head & Neck issues:
Medical & surgical treatment of:
- Tumors (cancerous conditions) related to head & neck
- Management of facial trauma
- Plastic & cosmetic surgery for correction of deformities
- They may coordinate with the neurosurgical team to treat head & neck disorders and with the surgery team to perform cosmetic & corrective plastic surgery.
Tips on how to choose a good ENT Specialist:
Qualification: It takes up to 10 years of medical training to earn an ENT specialist degree. The candidate has to complete 4-5 years of medical school and then an additional of 3-4 years of specialist training in ENT. Make sure your specialist has all the legal qualifications in place.
Experience: As with any physical skill, surgical techniques require constant practice for perfection. Your doctor needs to be well experienced with surgeries, so make sure you ask about the number of similar surgeries (s)he has performed in the past and how many of them have been successful.
Access to other specialties: An ENT specialist needs to be attached to a hospital where (s)he has ready access to doctors of the other specialties, this will facilitate easy referrals to other doctors if needed. For example an ENT specialist may need to co-ordinate with a dermatologist to assess allergies that cause sinusitis or with an oncologist to assess tumors in the head & neck region.
Reputation: A good ENT surgeon will have a list of references and a good reputation, so make sure you enquire about the surgeon before you undergo any surgical procedure. A minor difference in skill or competency can produce a major difference in surgical outcome.
Cost & waiting times: You may want to enquire about the waiting times, cost of surgery, insurance coverage and tax rebates (depending upon treatment type) associated with the treatment before you select your doctor.