Ear Nose Throat specialist is a doctor which deals with diseases and condition of the three important organs of the head. In view of the position of these organs; ENT surgeons are also known as Head Neck Surgeons. Most ENT conditions have relationship to the neck especially in cancer in which there is a high probable to spread into the lymph nodes within the neck.

ENT has subspeciality in rhinology [nose], otology[ear], larynx [throat] and paediatric ENT [children]. Besifdes that ENT has speciality in allergy, voice and sleep/snoring.

Having to hear sounds within the ears without real external source is termed as tinnitus. Very often this condition is disturbing and in some may cause depression. It is often associated with deafness. When it presents with vertigo and deafness is known as Meniere’s Disease but uncommon in Asians.

Patients with one sided tinnitus should be cautious as it could be a tumour within the nerves of the inner ear but confirmatory imaging with MRI may be essential.

News Desk
Turn That Noise Down!
By Wes Phillips

September 3, 2006 — Yes, we’ve reported on this before, but it bears repeating—especially if you didn’t hear us because you were playing your iPod too loud: Prolonged exposure to loud music can damage your hearing.
The reason for this particular cautionary lecture? A recent article in Malaysia’s New Straits Times, which quotes ENT specialist Dr. Kuljit Singh: “Constant use of earphones, especially from listening to iPods, can cause loss of hearing, especially among the young who use it for prolonged periods. . . . In five years, I will be seeing people who used maximum volumes just to listen to their music.”
Quoted in the same article, Dr. Siti Zamratol Mai-Sarah Mukar, head associate professor of University of Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Audiology and Speech Sciences department, cited many new developments that caused increased concern among hearing professionals, including that favorite punching bag of the audiophile community, digital technology: “Before, with analog technology, there would be distortions in the music when you turn up the volume.”
Dr. Singh gave some simple guidelines to knowing when you’ve been listening too loud for too long, including difficulty in following a conversation, hearing what is being said over TV, or being able to detect sound quality.
We want to keep all of our readers paying attention to that last one—you might even say we’re counting on it.

http://www.stereophile.com/news/090406noise/
News Desk
Turn That Noise Down!
By Wes Phillips

Absolute Contraindications
Inability to equalize pressure in the middle ear by auto-inflation. This may be due to a correctable problem such as polyps, nasal septal deviation or coryza in which case the diver can be reevaluated after correction of the problem.
Perforation of the tympanic membrane. Until fully healed or successfully repaired with good Eustachian tube function, diving is contraindicated.
Open, nonhealed perforation of the TM.
Monomeric TM
Tympanoplasty, other than myringoplasty (Type I)
History of stapedectomy. * Recent studies have shown that this is not necessarily true. See this article:
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001 Oct;125(4):356-60
Diving after stapedectomy: clinical experience and recommendations.
House JW, Toh EH, Perez A.
Clinical Studies Department, House Ear Clinic and Institute, 2100 West Third
Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057, USA.

CONCLUSIONS: Stapedectomy does not appear to increase the risk of inner ear
barotrauma in scuba and sky divers. These activities may be pursued with
relative safety after stapes surgery, provided adequate eustachian tube
function has been established.

History of inner ear surgery
Status post laryngectomy or partial laryngectomy
History of vestibular decompression sickness
Radical mastoidectomy (posterior) involving the external canal is disqualifying. (Closed childhood OK)
Meniere’s disease is disqualifying
Labyrinthitis
Perilymphatic fistula
Cholesteatoma is disqualifying
Cerumen impactions -remove before allowing to dive.
Stenosis or atresia of the ear canal-disqualifying.
Facial paralysis secondary to barotrauma
Tracheostomy, tracheostoma
Incompetent larynx due to surgery (Cannot close for valsalva maneuver)
Laryngocoele

Diving has now a favourite sport by many through out the world. One of the common medical problems related with diving is ear and nasal disorders. Ear often present with pain, loss of hearing and vertigo/dizziness.

Nasal symptoms are usually like headaches around the nasal area and forehead. Many divers have severe sinusitis with thickening of the mucosal layer within the nasal cavity. Adequate and proper treatment is required in order to avoid a serious condition or even causing a disaster while diving.

An ear infection can cause intense pain during the first 24 hours. Ear infections don’t typically require an emergency room visit, though many parents desperate to help their child feel better resort to this costly option. But many times, home treatment can help relieve your child’s discomfort. Try one or more of the following:

Pain relief. An over-the-counter pain reliever, in children or infant concentration, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and, after age 6 months, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can help relieve ear infection pain. Don’t hesitate to use these products whether or not you go to the doctor. Use of pain relievers won’t otherwise change the course of treatment your doctor would recommend. Be sure to use the correct dosage for your child’s age and weight. Giving your child too much medication can cause serious side effects. Never give aspirin to children under age 19 years. It may cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
Warmth. Apply warmth to the ear. Using a warm, moist cloth may help relieve pain and comfort your child.
Eardrops. Consider asking your doctor about eardrops that numb the ear. These medications (such as A/B Otic or Aurodex) contain a numbing medication (typically benzocaine) which is similar to Novocaine and is also found in the teething medications. These won’t cure the infection, but they may ease pain. Don’t use eardrops if fluid is draining from your child’s ear. Before using drops, warm them slightly by placing the bottle in warm water. Then, gently lay your child’s head and body on a flat surface with the affected ear facing up. Don’t try to insert the drops with your child in your arms or on your lap.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ear-infections/EI99999/PAGE=EI00028

Ear Pain is common in divers especially in training or during upper respiratory tract infections. Severe pain with sudden impaired hearing can occur while ascending up to the surface. Severe pressure within the middle ear could damage the middle ear bones and rupture the ear drum.

Another common ear pain in divers could be external ear canal infection due to fungus or bacteria. Very often impacted wax with water within the ear canal causes the similar type of pain.