ENT

Snoring is caused by vibrations of the floppy tissues in the throat as air passes through when breathing during sleep. It is similar to the sound caused by the flapping of a flag in windy conditions.

The full name of this condition is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) making it a more accurate description of this common condition. Almost everyone with this condition snores but this is much more than simple snoring.

We provide expert assessment of patients with nasal symptoms (blockage, congestion, facial pain, catarrh, post-nasal drip, nasal polyps, runny nose, nosebleeds). Following a detailed history of symptoms and endoscopic examination of the nose and sinuses, medical and surgical treatment of these conditions can be discussed.

Dizziness is a common problem and affects the day-to-day life of people. There are many causes of dizziness and vertigo such as positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease and migraine. Sometimes this may be associated with a hearing loss or a feeling pressure in the ears. We provide a full assessment and management of these conditions to try and improve the quality of life of sufferers. This may include a detailed hearing test. And this can be provided at this centre.

There are different types of ear infections causing that can cause earache, blocked ears, discharge from the ears, itchiness and hearing loss. This may be due to a perforated ear drum or infection of the ear canals. The type of ear infection will be diagnosed using the otoscope or the high powered microscope with our facilities for suction clearance and magnified view of the ear canals and the ear drum. The correct treatment, such as antibiotics or surgery, can then be discussed as well as prevention measures against future infections.

Glue ears and recurrent ear infections are common in children. Most resolve with time but sometimes they may persist. This can lead to poor hearing and its consequences on learning and education at school. Sometimes grommets are required to treat this condition and this is something that would be discussed.

Recurrent sore throats and tonsillitis is another common problem and this may be occurring frequently resulting in a lot of time off school. It may be appropriate for your child to have a tonsillectomy.

A runny and blocked nose with the production of lots of nasal mucus may be a sign of allergy or enlarged adenoids. This can often be treated successfully by medical treatment but sometimes an adenoidectomy is needed and we can consider all appropriate treatment options.