Specialty Area: Ear, Nose, and Throat

Description of Specialty: This specialty area focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose and throat.

1. Diagnosis: Hearing Loss

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Is there any difference in whether my hearing loss is sudden or gradual?
  2. Is my hearing loss in one or both ears?
  3. Is my hearing loss significantly associated with ringing in my ears or dizziness?
  4. What is the significance of fluctuating hearing loss?
  5. Is the hearing loss due to conduction defect.
  6. It is correctable?
  7. Is the hearing loss due to nerve injury?
  8. Would a hearing aid be of benefit, how would I select one and if not a hearing aid, would medications help?

2. Diagnosis: Otalgia

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Is it significant that my ear is tender when it is touched?
  2. Is there any damage from the ear?
  3. What is the significance of hearing loss, dizziness and ringing in my ears with the pain?
  4. Could a recent upper respiratory infection or dental problems leave any effect connected with the ear pain?
  5. Does the duration of the pain have any significance?
  6. If the pain is not localized, does this have any importance?
  7. If there are sores around the ear or side of my face, is this important?

3. Diagnosis: Dizziness

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What is the importance of my feeling light headed?
  2. What is the significance of dizziness when I change positions or turn my head?
  3. What does hearing loss or ringing in my ears mean if they accompany my dizziness?
  4. Can medicine, headaches or eye changes cause dizziness and what can be done?

4. Diagnosis: Nasal Obstruction

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Is there any difference if blockage is on one side or both of the nose?
  2. What is the significance of blockage that is either constant or intermittent?
  3. Can nose blockage be seasonal or can it occur year around?
  4. Are there any side effects to the use of nose drops?

5. Diagnosis: Post-Nasal Drainage

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Does consistency of drainage have any significance?
  2. Is the color of the drainage any concern?
  3. Why is drainage worse at night, when I recline or when I eat?
  4. Will allergic conditions make things worse?
  5. Will medication aggravate the condition?

6. Diagnosis: Epistaxis

Questions that should be asked:

  1. If I use aspirin or blood thinners, could this cause nosebleeds?
  2. Does the frequent use of nasal sprays for congestion or allergies carry any risk?
  3. Would a humidifier or saline spray help?
  4. What do I do to control a sudden nosebleed?
  5. If I can't control the bleeding, what do I do?
  6. Is it risky to "pick" the nasal passages?

7. Diagnosis: Sinus Infections

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Is the location of the face pain or headaches significant?
  2. Does nasal drainage, color or odor mean anything?
  3. Do fever, post-nasal drainage or cough associated with a headache mean anything?

8. Diagnosis: Headaches

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What is the significance of the location of the headaches and what if it is on one side only?
  2. If movement of the head aggravates the headache, what does this mean?
  3. If aspirin or Tylenol relieved the headaches, is this a good sign?

9. Diagnosis: Sore Throat

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Is there any difference with an acute onset or chronic sore throat?
  2. If swallowing makes the pain worse or I have hoarseness with the sore throat, what should I do?
  3. If I have a hiatus hernia and have acid reflex worse at night, can this cause my sore throat?

10. Diagnosis: Laryngitis

Questions that should be asked:

  1. Is there any difference if my hoarseness is constant or intermittent?
  2. If I smoke a lot and inhale, is this a problem?
  3. Does excess surgery cause a problem?
  4. If I have coughed up blood, would this be related to my hoarseness?

11. Diagnosis: Neck Mass

Questions that should be asked:

  1. If knots (nodes) have been present on my neck for sometime and if I have glands that can be felt elsewhere, could these be related?
  2. If nodes are not tender as a rule but occasionally sore, is this significant?
  3. If the nodes change in size with varying tenderness, is this of concern?

12. Diagnosis: Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Questions that should be asked:

  1. If I am told that I snore in all positions and my mate has to sleep in a separate room, is this significant?
  2. If I am tired during the day and I have a headache when I get up, is this part of sleep apnea?
  3. Does weight gain have any connection with my complaints?
  4. Do high blood pressure and obesity have any connections with sleep apnea?

13. Diagnosis: Chronic Coughing

Questions that should be asked:

  1. If I have had a dry cough with an acute infection for several weeks, is this of concern?
  2. If I have chronic post-nasal drainage, would this produce a cough?
  3. If I smoke one-two packs of cigarettes a day, is this important in diagnosing what is wrong and what has to be done to determine the cause of the cough?
  4. Will a hiatus hernia with acid reflux cause a chronic cough?

Norman Druck, M.D. Clinical Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology Washington University School of Medicine St, Louis, MO

                                                                                      

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