Ask a Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Specialist: Dr Lynne Lim from Mount Elizabeth Orchard Hospital Singapore

Ask a Doctor Forum › Category: Otorhinolaryngology › Ask a Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Specialist: Dr Lynne Lim from Mount Elizabeth Orchard Hospital Singapore
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dr. Lynne Lim asked 3 years ago
I am Dr Lynne Lim, Senior Consultant Ear Nose Throat – Head & Neck Surgeon based in Mount Elizabeth (Orchard) Hospital and Farrer Park Hospital. Ask Me Anything! I have over 25 years of accredited ENT experience. Besides my private practice, I am Adjunct Associate Professor to the School of Medicine at National University Singapore, and Visiting Consultant to the ENT Department at National University Hospital. Between 2001 to 2003, I was awarded a Healthcare Manpower Development Program (HMDP) Fellowship for ENT Surgery and National Medical Research Council Research Fellowship for research at Cincinnati Children Hospital Medical Centre, Ohio, USA. CCHMC is a world-renowned American ENT Board Accredited medical and research centre, and my little girl loved growing up there. Between 2002 to 2004, I completed my Master of Public Health degree at the Harvard School of Public Health, USA. My second MOH HMDP award in 2008 -2009 was for reconstruction surgery of microtia/ atresia/ middle ear at inspirational centers of Stanford Medical Centre (USA), University of Virginia Medical Centre (USA), and Nagata Plastic and Ear Reconstruction Clinic (Japan). I have enjoyed traveling to neighbouring countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Middle East as faculty for surgery workshops and academic conferences, and seen that good health is really the top concern for everyone. I consult in adult and pediatric cases of general ENT like ear, hearing, tinnitus, giddiness, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, snoring, adenoid and tonsils, throat, voice, head and neck lump problems. I am further sub-specialized to manage complex cases of ear problems and hearing loss (EarWell, microtia, atresia and middle ear tumor and ear bone reconstruction surgery, cochlear implants, middle ear implants like Vibrant Soundbridge, BoneBridge, BAHA bone anchored hearing aids; airway reconstruction; syndromic children (e.g. Down Syndrome). In Singapore, I have had the chance to do exciting work, pioneering simultaneous anterior and posterior rib graft reconstruction for severe subglottic airway stenosis for stridor in children (2004), sphincteroplasty for velopharyngeal insufficiency for unclear speech (2004), genetic testing of congenital hearing loss service at NUH (2005), the first simultaneous bilateral cochlear implant surgery (2005), and first totally-implantable (“invisible”) Carina middle ear implant surgery (2008). In 2006, I had the chance again to perform the first Vibrant Soundbridge middle ear implant surgery. There are 2 key research initiatives I am continuing with currently. One is the development of a hand-held device to insert grommet ear tubes in the clinic, and another is the development of a bioabsorbable grommet tube that would self degrade within 3 to 6 months. Learn more about me here: https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/lynne-lim/ I am excited to be here to share/discuss ENT Health with everyone. I will be actively answering questions. Whether you've got questions about ENT disorders either in children or adults, or specific questions related to hearing loss or unclear speech, ask me anything! === Want to ask a question? Submit your question at the bottom of this page. Don’t forget to include your name and email address to get notified when the doctor answers your question.
35 Answers
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muhamad vega answered 3 years ago
Doctor, my mother is complaining about having water inside her ear. She says it makes her dizzy. What should we do, Doc? What problem is this?
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Dizziness can be due to many factors, not just the ear. So it is important that your mother seeks a clinic consult with the ENT doctor, as she needs to be examined in person. Possible reasons include middle or inner ear infections or fluid or nose infections which can be treated with medications. Dizziness could be due to medication, blood pressure, sugar levels, heart or stroke like problems too. Thus, if ear or nose condition is excluded after the consult, the ENT doctor needs to do other tests or refer your mother for further evaluation. Take care!

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Nuri nuraini answered 3 years ago
Morning, Doctor. My ears sometimes ring uncomfortably. Why is that so, Doc?
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Hi, ringing of the ears can be due to many factors. Amongst them, 30% to 50% are due to ear hearing, ear infection or imbalances in biochemistry, antibodies or vitamins in the blood system. Occasionally, there can also be growths pressing on the ear nerve or brain. Other common causes could be medications, thyroid, blood pressure problems. It is best to have your ENT doctor check it out as tinnitus, like giddiness, is not an easy problem to diagnose via teleconsult.

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Sunarsih Sunarsih answered 3 years ago
Doctor, my child is 13 years old. Every time he coughs and has a cold, there is wax coming out his ears. What problem is this? What should I do?
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Hi, the “wax” that is coming out of the ear may be sticky fluid or crusted ear discharge from infection sometimes. It is unusual to have wax coming out of the ear when he coughs. It will be good to let your family doctor or ENT doctor take a look to exclude a chronic middle ear infection too. If there really is wax coming out each time he coughs, there may be a lot of wax build up in the ear canal, and the doctor can help to remove the wax.

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Slamet Tulus Siahaan answered 3 years ago
My right ear is always ringing and the volume can sometimes get annoying. Please give me your advice, Doc.
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Hi, ringing of the ears can be due to many factors. Amongst them, 30% to 50% are due to ear hearing, ear infection or imbalances in biochemistry, antibodies or vitamins in the blood system. Occasionally, there can also be growths pressing on the ear nerve or brain. Other common causes could be medications, thyroid, blood pressure problems. It is best to have your ENT doctor check it out as tinnitus, like giddiness, is not an easy problem to diagnose via teleconsult.

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Retno sn answered 3 years ago
Good evening, Doctor. My ears have been buzzing for 3 years. I saw an ENT and he said it is incurable. Is that right, Doc?
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Ringing or buzzing of the ears can be a result of many factors, and is thus challenging to manage. The most important would be to get an accurate diagnosis to exclude any worrying conditions first. Tinnitus could be due to ear problems, but it could also be due to deranged biochemistries, hormonal imbalances, medications, blood pressure, blood circulation, thyroid or autoimmune factors. After follow up with some hearing and ear pressure tests, blood tests and even radiology scans may be needed. If it is due to a ear problem, sometimes, dedicated tinnitus maskers or hearing aids may be needed. It is important to let your ENT see you in person to get a good diagnosis first. Tinnitus can be rehabilitated in many cases if there is a specific cause found.

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Husniati answered 3 years ago
Doctor, I want to ask - how do we treat buzzing ears?
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Hi, ringing of the ears can be due to many factors. Amongst them, 30% to 50% are due to ear hearing, ear infection or imbalances in biochemistry, antibodies or vitamins in the blood system. Occasionally, there can also be growths pressing on the ear nerve or brain. Other common causes could be medications, thyroid, blood pressure problems. It is best to have your ENT doctor check it out as tinnitus, like giddiness, is not an easy problem to diagnose via teleconsult.

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Any Yuliasih answered 3 years ago
Doctor, lately there is mucus coming out of my husband’s nose and sputum from his mouth. He has taken flu medicines but there is no improvement. What should we do?
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Mucus discharging from the nose and mouth may be due to infection, either bacteria or viral usually. If it is for a month already, it is important to see your ENT doctor so that the doctor can examine in person, take a swab to determine to offending organism that is causing the infection, and that will guide the correct medication and treatment. Sometimes, your doctor may need to do a nose scope to see if there is polyps or sinusitis problem. If there is a cough for a month, a chest xray may be needed. If it is not an infection, it may be due to allergies which can lead to increased production of mucus from the nose that backdrips into the throat too. Please see your doctor, a family doctor if there is no ENT doctor available to you.

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Maksum answered 3 years ago
Doctor, I have lost my voice for 3 years. I can only whisper, although I have tried to push out my voice with all my power. Sometimes people don’t understand what I'm saying. What is the cause, Doc, and what is the medicine/treatment? Thank you for your answer.
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Hi, there can be many causes of hoarseness of the voice. Your condition warrants a consult with your ENT doctor. Your ENT doctor can visualise the voice box vocal cords well with a simple in clinic flexible nasopharyngoscopy. It is painless. Sometimes, the voice cords are not moving well due to previous infections, injury or nerve damage. Sometimes, there are nodules or polyps on the voice cords that prevent the cords from closing fully. Rarely, but important to exclude, are cancers of the voice cord. It is very important to see your ENT first as the medication or treatment will be different depending on what the diagnosis is. Please do not delay as it has been for 3 years already.

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Sophian answered 3 years ago
Doctor, I want to ask - what is the solution for itching ears? Thank you
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

Itchy ears can usually be due to low grade chronic fungal infection, bacteria infection, trauma to ear canals from repeated digging of the ear, allergy related conditions. Depending on the diagnosis after seeing your doctor, the doctor can clean out the ear, then prescribe ear drops or cream to treat the inflammation. Sometimes allergy tests are carried out. Do not dig your ears.

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Berliana Napitupulu answered 3 years ago
Good evening, Doctor. I sometimes feel my ears are full, they hurt and itch, and ring. It really bothers me. Why is that so, Doc? And what is the medicine? Thank you for your explanation.
dr. Lynne Lim replied 3 years ago

When there are a few symptoms occurring together like ringing of ears, fullness of ears, and ear pain, you need to see your family doctor or ENT doctor. The common reasons are ear infection of the ear canal or middle ear, which can be treated by cleaning of the ear by the doctor, and correct antibiotics, antifungal or anti-inflammatory medications. Do not continue digging your ears yourself or putting your own over the counter medication drops. Sometimes, the problem can be due to an inner ear problem, which would require a hearing test to help with diagnosis. Blood tests may be needed to exclude blood conditions that can contribute ot the fullness and ear ringing. There may be a hearing loss which has been missed, and in some cases, an MRI scan of the brain may also be needed if the problem persists and no cause is found.

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