Otolaryngology (ENT)

Our ENT teams care for the ears, nose and throat across our hospitals and clinics in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Care ranges from clinic assessment and hearing tests to surgery, for both children and adults. We treat everyday problems from ear infections and sinus disease through to conditions that affect the voice and balance.

What is ENT (otolaryngology)?

ENT, or otolaryngology, is the medical and surgical care of the ears, nose and throat, along with much of the head and neck, at every age. ENT specialists manage conditions such as hearing loss, sinus disease and tonsil problems. They both prescribe medicines and operate, with surgery ranging from grommets to sinus and ear procedures. Much of their work is ongoing: testing, treating and reviewing over time. Cancers of the head and neck are shared with oncology teams.

When should you see an ENT specialist?

Book an appointment if you notice:

• Hearing loss, or an ear that keeps getting infections
• A blocked nose or sinus pain that will not clear
• A sore throat or hoarse voice that lasts more than a few weeks
• Ringing in the ears or repeated dizziness
• Snoring with pauses in breathing at night
• A lump in the neck that does not go away

A nosebleed that does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure is an emergency: go to A&E.

Regular exposure to loud noise, ongoing allergies or a family history of hearing loss are all good reasons to have your hearing and breathing checked. Young children with repeated ear infections or slow speech are often seen by an ENT specialist too. If you have never had your hearing tested as an adult, a baseline check can pick up gradual changes you may not notice yourself.

What to expect

At your first visit, the specialist asks about your symptoms and examines your ears, nose and throat. They often look in the ear with an otoscope and pass a small scope where the eye cannot reach. Depending on what they find, you might have a hearing test or a nasal endoscopy, a thin camera that looks inside the nose and throat. These simple checks build a clear picture, so you'll know more before treatment starts.

Many ENT problems settle with simple measures, such as ear drops, a nasal spray or a short course of medicine, and most people won't need an operation. When surgery does help, it's usually a well-established procedure such as grommets for glue ear, removing the tonsils or clearing blocked sinuses. Some conditions, such as allergies, need ongoing review. Your specialist explains the options, and you'll agree the next step together.

ENT at Mediclinic

Our surgeons carry out procedures ranging from grommets and tonsil surgery to endoscopic sinus surgery and eardrum repair. At Mediclinic, the dizziness clinics assess vertigo and balance problems, drawing on several specialities. Our audiology teams test hearing and balance and fit hearing aids. For people with severe hearing loss, we offer cochlear implant surgery at some of our hospitals. Our speech and language therapists help with voice and swallowing difficulties. Wherever you start, our ENT teams work together across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.