Medical conditions effecting the ears, nose and throat (ENT) can be wide ranging, some examples of which are listed below:

Ear

• Tinnitus
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Ear infections
• Perforated ear drums
• Protruding ears
• Otosclerosis (effecting the middle of the ear causing hearing loss)
• Otitis media with effusion (also known as glue ear and common in childhood)

Nose

• Tumours of the nose
• Nasal obstructions
• Sinus infections
• Disorders effecting the sense of smell

Throat

• Problems with swallowing
• Cancer of the throat
• Laryngitis
• Tonsillitis
• Sleep apnoea/ problems with snoring

Head and neck conditions are also within the ENT conditions and may include problems with the salivary glands as well as cancer which can affect the mouth, oral cavity and throat. The majority of conditions associated with ENT pose low risks to patients and are picked up during routine visits to your GP and treatments are usually straightforward.

ENT negligence therefore occurs when routine procedures lead to lasting damage, or when other areas which initially were not causing you a problem are affected. Some examples of negligent care in regards to ENT are damage to the vocal cords, a failure to diagnose or treat a condition which in turn results in lasting, and in some instances, life changing conditions. In the more severe cases patients may suffer from deafness, blindness or lasting damage to their nerves.