ENT Exams: Key to Diagnosing Sleep Apnea and Breathing Issues
If you’re being evaluated for sleep apnea, your doctor will likely refer you to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physician as part of the diagnostic process. But isn’t sleep about airways, not ears?
Yes, but some of the most common apnea triggers like congestion and anatomical blockages originate in structures that ENTs specialize in. Their exam provides invaluable insights into the root causes behind your sleep disturbances.
Let’s take a tour of what you can expect during an ENT evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea evaluation. Understanding the anatomy behind your symptoms is the first step toward personalized therapy.
Assessing Your Airway Anatomy and Function
An ENT thoroughly examines your nasal passages, mouth, throat and upper airway to identify sites of obstruction contributing to apnea. They evaluate:
Nasal passage and sinus blockages. Swollen turbinates, polyps, or a deviated septum can degrade airflow. Sinus inflammation also causes congestion worsening at night.
Tongue and tonsil size. Enlarged, obstructing tissue narrow passages. Floppy musculature collapses backward during sleep.
Excessive soft palate and uvula tissue. Like the tongue, these structures block the pharynx when relaxed in sleep.
Redundant tissues around the tonsils and side/back throat walls. Collapsibility during respiration worsens apnea.
Jaw and bite alignment. Poor jaw position crowds the airway space.
“Floppy epiglottis”. This leaf-shaped structure collapses onto/blocks the windpipe incorrectly during sleep.
By identifying the problematic anatomy unique to you, the ENT provides essential imaging you can’t obtain from sleep studies alone. Developing a personalized therapy plan requires understanding these root causes inside your airway first.
Assessing Surgical Options if Warranted
ENTs also assess if any anatomical obstruction sites discovered could potentially be corrected by surgery for moderate to severe cases of apnea. They ascertain whether procedures such as the removal of tonsils, adenoidectomy, turbinate reduction, or the insertion of palate implants will serve as a cure. Nasal passage or jaw realignment surgery can offer definitive relief for others also, if indicated.
Your ENT helps weigh potential surgical risks and benefits versus less invasive options like oral devices or CPAP. By considering your airway impairments’ exact nature, they guide smart therapy planning.
Revisiting the ENT After Apnea Therapy Begins
It’s also useful to follow up with your ENT periodically to re-evaluate your airway anatomy after beginning therapy. Doing so allows assessing if:
- Oral devices effectively maintain open passages without complications.
- Surgery achieved the desired results without recurrence of obstruction.
- Congestion, polyps, or other issues have recurred, potentially requiring revision.
With long-term monitoring, ENTs ensure your remedy continues providing optimal, lasting relief tailored to your unique anatomy.
Thanks to their specialized expertise in complex upper airway structures, ENTs provide invaluable yet often overlooked contributions to solving obstructed breathing puzzles. Be sure to take advantage of their knowledge in coordinating personalized and effective sleep apnea care!
