Grommets or ventilation tubes are small tubes that are inserted into the eardrum to “ventilate” the middle ear. These are placed to stop recurrent middle ear infections or to treat a condition called “glue ear” or otitis media with effusion. Grommet insertion is more commonly performed in children who are more likely to suffer from middle ear infections and glue ear. Rarely,…
Continue Reading →

A cyst in the thyroid gland is a common condition. Thyroid cysts are fluid-filled sacks that arise within the thyroid gland and are often the result of a degenerating thyroid nodule. They often present as a sudden and sometimes painful swelling in the thyroid gland which is situated in the front portion of the neck. The nature of onset and pain is…
Continue Reading →

Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency to ENT Specialists. It is important to establish the cause of any hearing loss urgently. Hearing loss may be due to problems in the ear canal or middle ear such as ear wax or middle ear fluid (effusion). This is called conductive hearing loss as the conduction of sound to the inner ear is impaired….
Continue Reading →

As ENT Specialists, we see many patients who have trouble with their ears when they dive. Diving is a common pursuit amongst people in Southeast Asia as there are numerous diving hotspots! A medical check-up is important before you embark on a diving course. PADI – the world’s leading scuba diver training organisation has an exhaustive list of medical requirements. Pain in…
Continue Reading →

Swollen ‘glands’ in the neck are a common ENT problem. These ‘glands’ are more correctly lymph nodes. The human body has several thousand lymph nodes. They are part of the immune system. These lymph nodes are key in the generation of immunity against infections. The neck contains hundreds of lymph nodes. These are often arranged in chains running down the front and…
Continue Reading →

A blocked nose is a common problem that ENT Specialists see and treat. In Singapore, nasal blockage seems to be highly prevalent probably due to the high levels of dust mite allergens (seen in many urban societies) and the excessive use of air-conditioning. The former causes allergic rhinitis and the latter causes vasomotor (or non-allergic) rhinitis. The most common cause of nasal…
Continue Reading →