Ear, Nose & Throat

The Ear, Nose and Throat department treats conditions of the ears, nasal passages, sinuses, throat, larynx and the structures of the head and neck. Many of these conditions are common and easily treated; others need surgery, and the department handles both.

Endoscopic examination allows the physician to see inside the nose, sinuses and throat directly during the consultation. Where imaging is needed, CT of the sinuses and temporal bones is available in the hospital’s radiology unit.

Conditions we treat

Hearing loss and ear infections, perforated eardrum, tinnitus and dizziness of inner-ear origin, chronic sinusitis and nasal obstruction, deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, sore throat and voice changes, and swellings in the neck.

Children make up a large share of the department’s work — recurrent ear infection, mouth breathing and snoring caused by enlarged adenoids, and hearing problems that show up as delayed speech.

Surgical procedures

Operations performed include tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, insertion of ventilation tubes for persistent middle-ear fluid, eardrum repair, septoplasty for a deviated septum, and endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis that has not responded to medication.

Most of these are day procedures or require a single overnight stay. The surgeon explains beforehand what the operation involves, how long recovery takes, and what to expect in the first days at home.

Before you come

Bring any previous hearing tests, imaging and prescriptions. If your complaint is hearing loss or dizziness, note when it started, whether it affects one ear or both, and whether it came on suddenly or gradually.

For a foreign body in the airway, heavy nosebleed that will not stop, sudden hearing loss, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency department without waiting for an appointment.