Expert Care for Hearing, Balance and Upper Airway Disorders

Published: 07.01.2023 · Last Updated: 05.08.2026 · Prepared by the Academic Hospital Web and Editorial Board.

The Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT: otolaryngology) Department is responsible for the diagnosis and medical treatment of diseases affecting the ear, nose, throat and neck, and for their operative management where surgery is required. Care is provided across a broad clinical spectrum, from hearing loss to sinusitis and from tonsil disease to voice disorders. The Academic Hospital ENT Department offers comprehensive assessment with endoscopic and audiological diagnostic tools.

Academic Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Department

Contents

What Is the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department?
Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated?
When Should You Consult an ENT Specialist?
Diagnostic Methods
Treatment Approaches
Ear, Nose and Throat at Academic Hospital
Frequently Asked Questions
References

What Is the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department?

ENT as a specialty deals with diseases of the head and neck region involving the ear (including audiology and the vestibular system), the nose and paranasal sinuses, and the throat and laryngeal structures. Both medical (drug) treatment and endoscopic and open surgical management are carried out by the ENT specialist.

Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated?

Acute and chronic sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses)
Allergic rhinitis and nasal obstruction
Nasal polyps
Septal deviation (deviated nasal septum)
Middle ear infection (otitis media, serous otitis)
Hearing loss (conductive and sensorineural)
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Dizziness and balance disorders (benign positional vertigo, Meniere's disease)
Tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy
Laryngitis, hoarseness and vocal cord disorders
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Obstructive sleep apnoea: conservative and surgical management
Neck masses and salivary gland diseases
Benign tumours of the head and neck region
Diseases of the external ear canal (otitis externa, earwax impaction)

When Should You Consult an ENT Specialist?

An ENT assessment is recommended for the following symptoms:

Nasal discharge and facial pain lasting longer than 10 days (suspected sinusitis)
Reduced hearing in one or both ears
A feeling of fullness, pain or discharge in the ear
Persistent tinnitus
Recurrent episodes of dizziness
Hoarseness lasting longer than two weeks
Difficulty swallowing or pain on swallowing
A newly noticed swelling or mass in the neck
Pauses in breathing during sleep reported by a partner (apnoea)

Emergency: Sudden hearing loss in one ear or severe dizziness requires an urgent ENT assessment.

Diagnostic Methods

Method	What it is used for
Nasal endoscopy	A thin optical fibre is used to view the inside of the nose, the openings of the paranasal sinuses and the nasopharynx directly.
Laryngoscopy (video laryngoscopy)	Real time imaging of the larynx and vocal cords; used for the assessment of voice disorders, tumours and polyps.
Sinus CT	Shows the anatomical structure of the paranasal sinuses; it is the imaging method of choice for chronic sinusitis and surgical planning.
Auditory evoked potentials (ABR/BAEP)	Assesses the auditory nerve and the brainstem auditory pathways; used in infants and in patients who cannot cooperate.
Sleep monitoring	Where sleep apnoea is suspected, the apnoea index is determined by polysomnography or a home sleep test.

Treatment Approaches

Treatment	Scope and application
Medical treatment	Antibiotics and nasal corticosteroids for acute sinusitis; antihistamines and immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis; antibiotics and watchful waiting for middle ear infection.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)	Minimally invasive surgery performed through the nose in the treatment of chronic sinusitis and polyps; the sinus drainage pathways are opened.
Septoplasty and turbinate surgery	Nasal obstruction caused by septal deviation and hypertrophic turbinates is relieved.
Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy	Performed for recurrent tonsil infections, tonsil hypertrophy or hearing loss caused by the adenoids.
Ventilation tube (grommet)	A small drainage tube placed in the tympanic membrane in serous otitis and recurrent middle ear infections.
Hearing aids and bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA)	In permanent hearing loss, assessment is carried out in coordination with audiology.
Treatment of sleep apnoea	CPAP in mild to moderate cases; where there is an indication for surgery, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or tongue base reduction procedures are performed.
Epley manoeuvre	An effective repositioning method applied in the clinical setting for benign positional vertigo.

The oncological assessment of neck masses is carried out in coordination with the Head and Neck Surgery Department. Hearing rehabilitation is planned jointly with the Audiology Department.

The Academic Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Department provides assessment for hearing loss, sinusitis, dizziness and sleep apnoea.

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Ear, Nose and Throat at Academic Hospital

At the Academic Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Department, outpatient examination, endoscopic assessment, audiological testing and the surgical management of cases requiring an operation are carried out under one roof. The department works routinely with the following departments:

Head and Neck Surgery: oncological assessment of neck masses and salivary gland diseases
Audiology: hearing tests, hearing aid fitting and hearing rehabilitation
Treatment of Sleep Disorders: joint management of sleep testing and the treatment plan in sleep apnoea
Allergic Diseases: diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and immunotherapy planning
Neurology: distinguishing neurological causes in dizziness and balance disorders
Pediatrics: follow-up of recurrent middle ear infections and adenoid problems in children
Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery: joint planning in reconstructive surgery of the nose and face

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell whether I have sinusitis or flu?

Flu usually begins with body aches, fever and fatigue and resolves within a week. In sinusitis, pain and a feeling of pressure in the face, yellow-green nasal discharge and loss of smell are prominent; if the symptoms last more than 5 days or become worse, sinusitis should be considered and an ENT assessment carried out.

Does the immune system weaken after the tonsils are removed?

No. The tonsils contribute to the immune system in early childhood; however, if they cause repeated severe infections, removing them does not weaken immune capacity. The immune system continues to function through other lymphoid tissues.

Can tinnitus be treated?

Tinnitus may have many different causes; identifying the underlying cause guides treatment. Tinnitus caused by earwax build-up, middle ear infection or certain medicines can be reversible. In patients with chronic tinnitus, sound therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and masking devices improve quality of life.

My child has frequent ear infections, what should I do?

More than 3 episodes of acute middle ear infection per year, or serous otitis lasting longer than 3 months, are the thresholds that call for an ENT assessment. Where necessary, a ventilation tube (grommet) or adenoidectomy can significantly reduce the frequency of infection and the associated hearing problems.

Is earache always caused by an ear infection?

No. The source of earache is sometimes not the ear itself; problems in the teeth, jaw joint, throat or neck can also cause pain referred to the ear. This is known as "referred pain". If earache is accompanied by a change in vision, swelling in the neck or difficulty swallowing, an urgent ENT assessment is required.

Does rhinoplasty also solve functional problems?

Yes. Difficulty breathing due to nasal obstruction, a deviated septum or turbinate hypertrophy can be corrected at the same time as rhinoplasty. In operations performed for both functional and aesthetic purposes, the ENT specialist carries out the necessary planning. The extent of the procedure is determined by examination and imaging.

Appointment and Information

444 0 353

Weekdays 08:00-18:00

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References

The general information given on this page about ear, nose and throat diseases, diagnostic methods and treatment approaches is supported by the reliable health sources listed below.

American Academy of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, "Clinical Practice Guidelines", entnet.org
European Rhinologic Society, "European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS 2020)", epos2020.com
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), "Hearing, Ear Infections, and Deafness", nidcd.nih.gov

The information on this page is for informational purposes only; it does not replace medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a healthcare institution regarding your complaints.