If you experience recurring ear infections, a constantly blocked nose, sore throat, or hearing loss, you should see an ear doctor right away.
Talking to an ear doctor is important if you are troubled by ear, nose, or throat problems that interfere with your normal functioning in daily life. If your sinuses are always bothering you, or your hearing seems dampened, or if you have a chronically sore throat and scratchy larynx, an ear doctor will be able to tell you what is causing the problem and help fix it once and for all.
The role of the ear doctor
Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) is the branch of medicine that specializes in diseases of the ear, nose, throat, and larynx. Specialists are commonly referred to as ENT doctors. After carrying out several hearing tests, this health professional will make a diagnosis and suggest an appropriate treatment.
More often than not, your appointment at your ear doctor’s will begin with thorough questioning about the symptoms and problems you are experiencing. The ear doctor will try to establish how long you have experienced this discomfort and whether it is a part of your family history. The doctor will then examine your ear canals with an otoscope. This instrument has a slender cone at the end, called an ear speculum, and has a small light attached that allows the examiner to see the ear drum.
What are the main components of the ear?
The ear is composed of three parts that capture sound and transmit it to the auditory nerve endings and then on to the brain.
- The external ear features the pinna and the external auditory canal.
- The middle ear consists of several interconnecting cavities, including the eardrum, three ossicles (the malleus, the incus, and thestapes), the eustachian tube, and the mastoid cavities.
- The inner ear is formed by the membranous labyrinth and the bony labyrinth which contains it, and also comprises the cochlea and the mechanisms responsible for balance.
How is sound measured?
The unit for measuring sound is the decibel (dB). According to the Canadian Hearing Society, the decibel was named in honour of telecommunications pioneer Alexander Graham Bell. If 0 dB is the weakest sound detectable by the human ear, 85 dB is the threshold level that cannot be passed without threat of damage to the inner ear and hearing loss. Noises of 150 dB can even tear the eardrum.
When should we see an ear doctor?
Symptoms that suggest ongoing problems should be presented to an ear doctor. Ask for a consultation if you experience a decline in your hearing; persistent pain; chronic sinus infections; the sensation of a blocked ear; whistling or ringing in your ears; chronic allergic inflammation in the nose or throat; loss of the sense of smell; problems of the throat and the larynx; trouble swallowing or breathing; abnormal lymph nodes; or chronic dizziness.
Consult an ear doctor on a regular basis if your job requires you to be exposed to explosive or loud noises or dangerous dust particles in the air. Athletes and scuba divers should also see an eye doctor regularly. One thing is certain: ear pain should always be taken seriously. Ear pain could be an indication of a more serious problem, and only an ear doctor can properly diagnose and treat such things without causing further complications.
