ENT clinic

Otorhinolaryngology deals with diseases of the ears, the nose with the paranasal sinuses, the pharynx and the larynx. These areas are more closely connected than it might seem: a blocked nose in the evening means snoring at night, and a throat infection means pain you feel in your ear. The specialist for this field is an otorhinolaryngologist, in everyday language often simply an ear, nose and throat doctor.

Common reasons for a visit include recurring ear infections, a blocked ear, buzzing or ringing in the ear, a long-term blocked nose, recurring sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, problems with the sense of smell, tonsillitis, persistent hoarseness and snoring.

The examination involves looking at the ear canal and eardrum, the nasal cavity and the throat, and the specialist also relies on the course of the problems as you describe it. If the examination is not enough, they will suggest further tests or a referral for imaging.

Hearing rarely gets worse overnight. More often it creeps up: the television is a little louder every month, you lose the thread of conversation in company, phone calls become tiring. That is exactly why a hearing test is useful even when you are sure there is nothing wrong with your hearing.

Hearing tests show at which frequencies and how much hearing is reduced, and whether the problem comes from the outer, middle or inner ear. The result is the basis for further decisions, from treatment to referral to a specialist for hearing aids.

Dizziness and vertigo can be caused by disorders of the balance organ in the inner ear, but they can also have an entirely different cause. Balance tests help to tell them apart. If vertigo is accompanied by sudden loss of hearing, double vision, weakness in the limbs or difficulty speaking, do not wait for an appointment and seek emergency medical help.

Allergic rhinitis shows itself with sneezing, an itchy and blocked nose and a watery discharge, often at the same time of year. When problems with the nose and sinuses are in the foreground, the right place is the ENT clinic, where the specialist's examination rules out other possible causes of the problems (e.g. a deviated nasal septum or nasal polyps).

When the allergy shows itself with symptoms and signs of lower airway disease, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, the pulmonology clinic is closer, as it also deals with allergic conditions and, if needed, orders allergy testing. The nose and lungs are part of the same airway, so some people need care in both places.

Many problems go away on their own. A nose blocked by a cold, hoarseness after a loud evening and a mild sore throat usually do not need a specialist.

Book an appointment when a problem persists or keeps coming back: hoarseness lasting longer than three weeks, a blocked ear on one side or buzzing in one ear only, recurring ear infections or tonsillitis, long-lasting discharge from one side of the nose, loss of smell that does not go away after a cold, and snoring with pauses in breathing during sleep that your partner notices.

Sudden loss of hearing in one ear, severe earache with a high fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing with swelling of the neck, and a foreign body in the airway need immediate care. In these cases, seek emergency medical help.

Examinations at the ENT clinic are self-pay, so you do not need a referral. Book using the online booking form or by phone, and check the price of a particular service when booking.

Bring the results of previous treatment and a list of the medicines you take, including nasal drops and sprays. If you have already had a hearing test elsewhere, bring that result too; a comparison with your previous condition tells more than a single measurement.