Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery in Aberdeen

Some of the common ear issues the consultants see are: 

• Hearing loss - A common cause of hearing impairment is excessive ear wax buildup. Patients presenting with this concern will have the earwax safely removed using a suction instrument, restoring hearing. Patients with hearing loss may benefit from a hearing aid, and we would get them to discuss this with our Audiologist. It can also help manage the symptoms of tinnitus.
• Tinnitus - In cases where tinnitus affects both ears, the consultant will discuss with the patient to explore potential triggers, such as noise exposure, recent ear infections, or ear trauma. A comprehensive hearing assessment will be carried to evaluate the extent of tinnitus interference. Following this evaluation, the consultants will provide patients with practical guidance on managing their symptoms.
• Discharge coming from the ears
• Dizziness/balance problems
• Blocked ears
• Pain in ears
• Dizziness

The Consultant will carry out different tests to determine at the consultation to assess the extent of the condition. 

When a patient presents with hearing loss in one ear only, or they have tinnitus in one ear, the consultant will want to exclude some rare conditions, such as acoustic neuroma, where benign tumours grow on the hearing nerve.

Relevant diagnostic imaging tests will be carried out on the head and ear to exclude any growth pressing on a nerve that is causing the hearing loss.

Selected Consultant ENT Surgeons at Albyn Hospital can offer consultations for children presenting with ear issues. 

Where subsequent treatment is required, the consultant will discuss this further with you. Treatment may be carried out elsewhere as Albyn Hospital does not offer surgery to children under 16 years of age. 

Some of the common ear issues the consultants see are: 

• Blocked nose - possibly caused by a squint or bend in  nasal septum which is bony and cartilage partition between our two nostrils. Other causes can be due to a swollen lining in the nose which can also cause the nose the run. 
• Runny nose 
• Nosebleeds
• Difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils
• Snoring
• Nasal polyps
• Nasal injury 
• Sinisitus
• To have the nose reshaped (nose job / rhinoplasty)

The Consultant will carry out different tests to determine at the consultation to assess the extent of the condition. 

Some of the throat issues our Consultants see are: 

• Tonsillitis – While this condition predominantly affects children, it also affects adults too. It can affect daily activities; therefore a solution might be to remove to the tonsils. This is normally carried out a day-case procedure performed under a general anaesthetic. 
• Sore throat – This may be caused by various factors such as infections, environmental pollutants, allergies, or acid reflux. The Consultant ENT Surgeon can carry out the necessary tests and provide a personalised treatment plan
• Hoarseness (changes in the voice) – There are several causes to this condition, which might be due to inflammation, growths on the vocal chords, scarring, vocal cord paralysis or overusing your voice. Tests to determine the cause may include diagnostic imaging and biopsy. Treatment for this condition depends on what's causing it and how severe it is.
• Difficulty swallowing – Patients may feel that food sticks when they’re eating, or they have pain when they swallow. Treatment for this condition depends on what's causing it and how severe it is.
• Lump/swelling in the neck – Patients presenting a lump in this area will have the necessary tests, which may include an ultra scan or a fine needle aspiration (FNA), to determine the cause. Lumps in the neck can be caused by thyroid disease, cancer, infection or an allergic reaction. 

Thyroid problems are quite common which can affect more women than men.

Some signs that you might have an underactive thyroid – dry skin, feeling cold, weight loss/gain, depression, and poor memory. You may also experience dull facial expression, straw like hair and slowed speech.

An overactive thyroid can cause anxiety, mood swings, sweating more than normal, feeling hot, drooping eyelids, shaky hands and enlarged or swollen thyroid gland.

Patient may develop a neck lump which is typically found in the front part of the neck. As the thyroid gland is butterfly shaped any lump in it could be located little right or left of the front part of the neck just below the Adams apple. Any such lump that persists beyond three weeks need to be assessed by a thyroid surgeon. 

Fortunately, most thyroid lumps do not have cancer. However, given the location of thyroid lumps in the neck, one can experience local discomfort, pressure in the neck, difficulty swallowing, effortful breathing, choking sensation, snoring and disturbed sleep.

Muhammed Shakeel, Consultant ENT/Thyroid Surgeon at Albyn Hospital says “The development of pain in the lump, shooting pain to the ear, voice change, worsening of swallowing, and shortness of breath could indicate malignancy. Urgent and timely investigations of a thyroid lump would allow potentially curable surgery”

Our Consultant ENT Surgeon will take a full medical history and ask you about your symptoms and how they are affecting your day-to-day life.

Many nose and throat conditions are investigated with a nasal or throat endoscopy. This involves passing a small thin tube with a light and camera attached to it (an endoscope) up your nostril and down into the back of your throat. As the tube is moved along, your Consultant is able to carefully examine the inside structure and look for any kind of blockage or swelling. 

Depending on your specific symptoms, additional scans may be needed. Our on-site diagnostic capabilities include X-ray, MRI and Ultrasound, so these can be easily arranged for you if needed. Sometimes a biopsy (removal of a sample of tissue that is then sent away for investigation), may be needed. 

Once any test results are back, your Consultant will discuss them with you and talk through treatment options. Treatment will always be tailored to your specific condition and needs.

• Expert assessment from an experienced consultant. You will see the same Consultant will be seen by the same consultant throughout the entirety of their treatment journey.
• A multidisciplinary clinic. Your consultant is supported by a number of other healthcare professionals such as nurses and radiographers.This multidisciplinary team approach ensures you will receive support and treatment from the most appropriate specialist throughout your time with us.
• Our state-of-the-art imaging facilities include Xray, CT, MRI and ultrasound.  These diagnostic imaging procedures can all be easily arranged if required. Our Radiologists work closely with our consultants to provide an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.
• Treatment plans tailored to meet your individual health needs.
• Fixed-price surgery packages.
• You can book an initial consultation online with most of our consultants.
• *97.0% of patients said their overall experience of our service was good or very good.

^{*During the period of January to December 2023 Albyn Hospital received 2,170 completed Inpatient/Day Case patient surveys.}

For anyone considering an ENT consultation at Albyn, you can call our friendly team on 01224 595993

Alternatively, you can use our handy online booking system.