What does a Head and Neck specialist do exactly?

Head and neck are the vital part of our body which protect our senses provided by our eyes, nose, ears, mouth and throat. There are many conditions related to head and neck which, if left untreated could cause serious damage to our sense organs, therefore, it must not be taken lightly. There are many well-known experienced head and neck specialist in Singapore, serving in both the public and private sectors.

 For instance, there are many well-known worldwide head and neck specialists in our government hospitals such as Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, National Cancer Centre Singapore, as well as in private medical institutions such as Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles and Novena ENT- Head & Neck Surgery Specialist Centre and Parkway East Medical Centre.

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The specialization in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat specialist, and head & neck disorders is called otolaryngology. ENT specialist also known as otolaryngologists is a physician trained in both medicine and surgery, who specialized to treat a number of ear, nose throat and head & neck diseases such as cancers and tumours. Most common head & neck issues are Neck Lumps and Thyroids. 

Otolaryngologists are trained to treat benign and malignant infectious diseases such as tumours facial trauma, and deformities of the face as well as cosmetic plastic and reconstructive surgery. Researches show that by 2030, the number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise to 23.6 million. Therefore, our experience and professional head and neck specialist at Novena ENT are at your service to provide the following head and neck treatment and surgeries.

Thyroid Surgery

Parotid Surgery

Submandibular Gland Surgery

Neck Dissection

Laryngeal Surgery

Phonosurgery

Surgery for Oral and Pharyngeal Tumours

Management of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

ear specialist

Thyroid Surgery: also known as thyroidectomy, is used to treat common conditions and disorders related to thyroid gland, growth of tumours, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism due to the excess or deficiency of thyroid hormones. General anaesthesia and a small incision will be involved in the procedure, followed by regular check.

Parotid Surgery: The saliva secreting gland parotid is located near ear, neck, mouth and jawline area. Sometimes lumps may form in these glands and if left untreated for a long time, it might transform malignant. So be vigilant of an ear infection, swelling and pain of the parotid gland due to viral infection and make an appointment to see the ear specialist in Singapore as soon as possible to avoid any hearing loss. In this procedure, Parotid Gland is surgically removed under general anaesthesia by making an incision around and behind the ear area which is hidden behind the hairline.

Submandibular Gland Surgery: Similar to Parotid glands, another salivary gland that may be affected by benign or malignant tumours, called submandibular gland, is located under the jawlines on both sides of face. Submandibular gland must be removed even when they are benign because of their speedy process of turning into malignant and prevent turning into cancer by seeing our experienced and well-known throat specialist.

Neck Dissection: Lymph vessels are a network of tubes that connect to groups of lymph nodes throughout the body. Most head and neck cancers and tumours are able to spread to other body parts through the lymph nodes quite fast and easily. At Novena ENT, our otolaryngologists ensure to provide you satisfactory results by surgical procedure of neck dissection, by removing some or all of the infectious parts.

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Laryngeal Surgery: Suitable for patients with Larynx, commonly called voice box cancer where a part or all of the larynx is removed. Laryngeal Surgery may be advised to be done along with chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Phonosurgery: Similar to the Laryngeal surgery, Phonosurgery is recommended for those whose previous treatments have proven not to be effective in order to aim the root cause of the condition for longterm cure rather than looking for temporary treatment.

Surgery for Oral and Pharyngeal Tumours: Throat and mouth are very crucial part for of our body as they enable us to eat and swallow, therefore in order to treat tumours in the Oral Cavity and Pharynx, a surgical procedure will be advised by our experienced ENT specialist, followed by the replacing and restructure of the mouth and throat area.

Management of Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Nasopharynx cancer is the most common cancers affecting the head and neck area. Radiation Oncologists and Medical Oncologists are recommended for patients suffering from Nasopharyngeal Cancer along with the coordinated care and regular follow up treatment.

Cancer is among the leading causes of death in the world but with the advancement in medical science it has been possible to cure cancer if it is detected at an early stage. According to research, the number of cancer survivors is expected to increase to 20.3 million by 2026. So if you suspect any lump around your neck area, or suspect any of the symptoms, go for a checkup to consult your trusted head and neck specialist in Singapore at Novena ENT, in order to detect cancer at an early stage and to prevent it from spreading soonest to be able to get the latest innovative treatment you deserve.

What is a Cochlear Implant And Who Is Suitable For It?

Cochlear updates are unfathomably top-level clinical contraptions that work hugely instead of customary preservationist intensifiers which improve sounds. A cochlear improvement maintains a strategic distance from the hurt bit of the inside ear and offers sound signs to the cerebrum by engaging the sound-related nerve. This parcels to the genuinely requiring a diminished intensifier to see sound sensations.

How accomplish Cochlear Implants work?

A cochlear embed contains two standard bits — a genuinely introduced inside part that unquestionably vivifies the sound-related nerve, and an outside sound processor worn on the ear to get sound signs. The two regions are coupled utilizing a solid magnet and work together to change over sounds into electrical signs that are sent to the cerebrum where they are deciphered. This structure occurs so quickly that the client will hear the talk and different sounds immediately.

Who ought to get a Cochlear Implant?

Patients with mind-blowing to-basic hearing difficulty who don't profit enough from listening contraptions ought to think about a cochlear present. It is fitting for grown-ups and youngsters as vivacious as a half year old. Administrators propose implantation as before timetable as conceivable to open youths to sounds for ideal tuning in and passed on in language improvement. For grown-ups, cochlear growths can help reestablish hearing and improve their correspondence and individual satisfaction.

Hearing Loss

Hearing disaster can be a yielded surrendered delayed consequence of different causes, yet the realness of inadequacy changes depending whereupon some piece of the ear is harmed and its reality. Among within, center and outside bits of our ear, ability to inside part ie; the cochlea, will raise steadfastly liberate events from hearing upsetting effect. There can be a couple of clarifications for a hurt cochlea.

It might be from preface to uproarious disrupting impact which is a standard clarification, a birth turning, injury to the ear, injury, unavoidable attributes or making. In that limit, cochlear updates are for genuinely filtered through individuals about as everything is relative. The regular pack between hurt and the solid cochlea is the structures by which well the hair cells that are utilized in the ear to transmit sound waves to the conversation nerve is working. Hurt hair cells are what makes the loss of hearing.

The way where a hurt cochlea is controlled is by utilizing cochlear growths. To treat a hurt ear it is the supervisor to get it pulled back by an ENT specialist at the soonest structures conceivable. The cutoff between cochlear growths and intensifiers is that cochlear overhauls are intentionally introduced as opposed to versatile enhancers which are transient. The cutoff between treating hearing scene with obliged intensifiers or growths relies on the kind of treatment required. Adaptable intensifiers improve sounds while presents treat the hurt hair cell to vivify the party nerve and offer data to the cerebrum. Concerning picking which treatment/help will with besting confirmation the issue, it will rely on the realness of each case, which some piece of the ear is harmed and what is the tendency of treatment.

By judiciousness of the arrangement from the standard of the treatment of cochlear updates that require a clinical point of view, the treatment isn't for everybody. ENT stars will conceivably offer patients the choice of a cochlear present if the understanding is silly and apparent hearing associates are not excellent. Regardless of whether a seriously hot (over 2 years of age) to middle age without any end in sight aggregated, it is up to sensibility by the supervisor to pick if cochlear upgrades are required. Considering them being foul, over the top silly and having harmed results, the structure is obliged to individuals with essentially veritable events of hearing difficulty or deafness.

What is a Cochlear Implant?

A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged portion of the inner ear and provides sound signals to the brain by stimulating the auditory nerve. This provides an opportunity for the severely hard of hearing to perceive sound sensations.

Cochlear implants are highly advanced medical devices that work differently from conventional hearing aids which amplify sounds.

How do Cochlear Implants work?

A cochlear implant comprises two main components-- a surgically implanted internal part that directly stimulates the auditory nerve, and an external sound processor worn on the ear to receive sound signals. The two components are coupled using a strong magnet and work together to convert sounds into electrical signals that are sent to the brain where they are interpreted. This process happens so rapidly that the user will hear speech and other sounds without any noticeable delay.

Who should get a Cochlear Implant?

Patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss who do not benefit enough from hearing aids should consider a cochlear implant. It is suitable for adults and children as young as six months old. Experts recommend implantation as early as possible to expose children to sounds for optimal listening and spoken language development. For adults, cochlear implants can help restore hearing and improve their communication and quality of life.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be a result of many causes, but the severity of impairment varies depending on which part of the ear is damaged and the seriousness of it. Amongst the inner, middle and outer parts of our ear, damage to the inner part the cochlea, will cause more severe cases of hearing loss. There can be several reasons for a damaged cochlea.

It may be from exposure to loud noise which is a common cause, a birth defect, injury to the ear, trauma, genetics or aging. Therefore, cochlear implants are not only for old people but of all ages. The biological difference between a damaged and healthy cochlea is how well the hair cells that are used in the ear to transmit sound waves to the hearing nerve is functioning. Damaged hair cells are what makes the loss of hearing.

The way a damaged cochlea is treated is by using cochlear implants. To treat a damaged ear it is crucial to get it diagnosed by an ENT specialist at the earliest stages possible. The difference between cochlear implants and hearing aids is that cochlear implants are surgically implanted versus hearing aids which are impermanent. The difference between treating hearing loss with hearing aids or implants depends on the type of treatment needed. Hearing aids amplify sounds whereas implants treat the damaged hair cell to stimulate the hearing nerve and pass on information to the brain. When it comes to deciding which treatment/aid will best resolve the problem, it will depend on the severity of each case, which part of the ear is damaged and what is the preference of treatment.

Due to the complexity of the treatment of cochlear implants that requires surgery, the treatment is not for everyone. ENT specialists will only offer patients the option of a cochlear implant if the damage is severe and hearing aids are not sufficient. Whether a child (above 2 years old) to middle age and older, it is up to discretion by specialists to determine whether cochlear implants are required. Due to them being controversial, very expensive and having uncertain results, the procedure is limited to people with only severe cases of hearing loss or deafness.