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:
- Is there any difference in whether my hearing loss is sudden or gradual?
- Is my hearing loss in one or both ears?
- Is my hearing loss significantly associated with ringing in my ears or dizziness?
- What is the significance of fluctuating hearing loss?
- Is the hearing loss due to conduction defect.
- It is correctable?
- Is the hearing loss due to nerve injury?
- 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:
- Is it significant that my ear is tender when it is touched?
- Is there any damage from the ear?
- What is the significance of hearing loss, dizziness and ringing in my ears with the
pain?
- Could a recent upper respiratory infection or dental problems leave any effect connected
with the ear pain?
- Does the duration of the pain have any significance?
- If the pain is not localized, does this have any importance?
- If there are sores around the ear or side of my face, is this important?
3. Diagnosis: Dizziness
Questions that should be asked:
- What is the importance of my feeling light headed?
- What is the significance of dizziness when I change positions or turn my head?
- What does hearing loss or ringing in my ears mean if they accompany my dizziness?
- Can medicine, headaches or eye changes cause dizziness and what can be done?
4. Diagnosis: Nasal Obstruction
Questions that should be asked:
- Is there any difference if blockage is on one side or both of the nose?
- What is the significance of blockage that is either constant or intermittent?
- Can nose blockage be seasonal or can it occur year around?
- Are there any side effects to the use of nose drops?
5. Diagnosis: Post-Nasal Drainage
Questions that should be asked:
- Does consistency of drainage have any significance?
- Is the color of the drainage any concern?
- Why is drainage worse at night, when I recline or when I eat?
- Will allergic conditions make things worse?
- Will medication aggravate the condition?
6. Diagnosis: Epistaxis
Questions that should be asked:
- If I use aspirin or blood thinners, could this cause nosebleeds?
- Does the frequent use of nasal sprays for congestion or allergies carry any risk?
- Would a humidifier or saline spray help?
- What do I do to control a sudden nosebleed?
- If I can't control the bleeding, what do I do?
- Is it risky to "pick" the nasal passages?
7. Diagnosis: Sinus Infections
Questions that should be asked:
- Is the location of the face pain or headaches significant?
- Does nasal drainage, color or odor mean anything?
- Do fever, post-nasal drainage or cough associated with a headache mean anything?
8. Diagnosis: Headaches
Questions that should be asked:
- What is the significance of the location of the headaches and what if it is on one side
only?
- If movement of the head aggravates the headache, what does this mean?
- If aspirin or Tylenol relieved the headaches, is this a good sign?
9. Diagnosis: Sore Throat
Questions that should be asked:
- Is there any difference with an acute onset or chronic sore throat?
- If swallowing makes the pain worse or I have hoarseness with the sore throat, what
should I do?
- 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:
- Is there any difference if my hoarseness is constant or intermittent?
- If I smoke a lot and inhale, is this a problem?
- Does excess surgery cause a problem?
- If I have coughed up blood, would this be related to my hoarseness?
11. Diagnosis: Neck Mass
Questions that should be asked:
- 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?
- If nodes are not tender as a rule but occasionally sore, is this significant?
- If the nodes change in size with varying tenderness, is this of concern?
12. Diagnosis: Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Questions that should be asked:
- If I am told that I snore in all positions and my mate has to sleep in a separate room,
is this significant?
- If I am tired during the day and I have a headache when I get up, is this part of sleep
apnea?
- Does weight gain have any connection with my complaints?
- Do high blood pressure and obesity have any connections with sleep apnea?
13. Diagnosis: Chronic Coughing
Questions that should be asked:
- If I have had a dry cough with an acute infection for several weeks, is this of concern?
- If I have chronic post-nasal drainage, would this produce a cough?
- 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?
- 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