There are two submandibular glands underneath the jaw line - one on the left and one on the right side of the neck. Their job is to secrete saliva into the mouth that keeps the mouth and throat moist, and aids digestion. There are 3 main problems that can occur in these glands: 1)the duct that

Hearing loss can be devastating and socially isolating. We forget how much we rely on good hearing, day to day, whether it be at work or relaxing listening to our favourite music. If you come to see me, I would ask you how long you have had hearing loss for, which ear is affected, do you have ear

I see children at the Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital, and the Nuffield Hospital, Cambridge. Adenoids are like a tonsil in the back of the nose. They are part of the ring of immune system tissue at the back of the throat (adenoids, palatine tonsils, lingual tonsils). We find that removing the adeno

Chronic cough Do you have a chronic cough? Have you had a cold, virus or chest infection and since then have been unable to stop coughing? Do you feel like there is something stuck in your throat, a lump in the throat, irritation or phlegm. Do you cough so much your throat has become sore, or does

I see children at the Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital, and the Nuffield Hospital, Cambridge. After a cold or viral illness, a negative pressure can develop in the space behind the ear drum (middle ear). This negative pressure pulls fluid from the lining of the ear. The fluid is trapped and causes d

There are two parotid glands in the body - one on each side of the face. Their job is to secrete saliva into the mouth, along with the submandibular glands and the many minor salivary glands all over the lining of the mouth and throat. Occasionally, a lump can develop in the gland and start to gr

Ear wax is naturally produced by the skin of the ear canal. It helps to prevent infection in the outer ear and lubricates the skin. Normally, as wax is produced, it can move outwards as the jaw opens and closes, and it is shed out of the ear with some dead skin. However, sometimes the wax can bu

Patients often come to see me with nasal blockage. This can be caused by many different issues. I would see you and ask you about green or yellow nasal discharge, nasal injuries in the past, nose bleeds, facial pain, sneezing and sense of smell. I would then examine your throat, nose, ears and ne

There are between 4 to 8 parathyroid glands which sit either side of the thyroid gland in the base of the neck. Their job is to regulate the level of calcium in the blood. Calcium is an important chemical in the body that helps muscles contract. The calcium level in the blood can increase in som

The tonsils are fleshy bits of tissue at the back of the throat on either side. They, along with the adenoids (behind the nose), and the lingual tonsils (that sit at the back of the tongue), create a ring of tissue called the Waldeyer’s ring. During evolution, they formed part of the immune system,

You may need a hearing test (audiogram) and pressure test (tympanogram) so you can contact my audiologists to book these tests. The pressure test will tell me if there is any fluid behind the ear drum (glue ear) or problems with regulating the pressure behind the ear drum.   You can book a hearing

Tinnitus means noises in the ears, heard when there are no physical noises in your environment. Tinnitus is normally associated with a hearing loss, which you may or not be aware of. Most people experience tinnitus at some point or other, e.g. after a loud concert. When you come to see me, I woul

Are you worried that you might have head and neck cancer? Have you been seen in the NHS and are scared and worried that nothing makes sense or progress is slow? Not every GP or ENT consultant specialises in head and neck cancer, so seeing a general ENT surgeon, who does not deal with cancer day

Nosebleeds can be quite frightening. They occur in children and adults. They can be caused by: nose picking, blood thinning medications (e.g. aspirin, warfarin, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel), high blood pressure, a dry nose, steroid nasal sprays, inherited diseases, nasal fractures, and cancers or be

Have you seen your GP about an ENT problem and been referred to the NHS? I work in the NHS and in private practice. Since the COVID crisis, there are very long waits to be seen and to have surgery on the NHS, as we are dealing with a large number of people who we could not see whilst dealing with

Outer ear infections affect the skin of the ear canal. In medical speak, they are called "otitis externa". They can be triggered by swimming, using cotton buds, or touching the ear. The ear canal swells up and the hearing can become muffled. The ear can become exquisitely painful. Patients are of

What the patients say about rhinoplasty under my care: “I recently had a septorhinoplasty with Dr Amen and am entirely pleased with the experience from start to finish. Dr Amen’s expertise and approachable manner were evident from the initial consultation. I felt listened to, comfortable and inf

Vertigo is the illusion of movement. You may experience the room spinning around and around when your eyes are open. It is often related to a problem with the inner ear. It is to be distinguished from other types of dizziness such as feeling faint and lightheaded, which may be related to drops i

The thyroid is a small butterfly shape gland which sits on top of the windpipe in the midline of the base of the neck. It is responsible for secreting hormones which help regulate the rate of the chemical reactions in the body. There are two main problems that can happen with the thyroid gland: