Declan Costello, MA, MBBS, FRCS(ORL-HNS),
Consultant Ear,
Nose and Throat Surgeon,
Wexham Park Hospital,
Slough, Berkshire, UK.
TW / X: @Voicedoctor_uk
Members of the ENT & Audiology News team were recently in Istanbul for the IFOS meeting, which was typically vibrant and lively! During the congress, it was announced that the 2030 meeting will be held in Hong Kong, headed by Prof Michael Tong. I caught up with him for a chat – watch the video here.
As some readers will know, I have a particular interest in music and singing; hence, much of my clinical practice revolves around treating professional singers. A recent series on BBC Radio 3 discussed the voice, with a focus on western classical singers. I was delighted to contribute to that set of programmes.
Our articles on the history of ENT continue to give fascinating insights. In this edition, Katherine Conroy tells us about the grizzly history of nasal amputation as a punishment. The earliest documented example of this is in a Chinese woman around the 13th century.
On the subject of nasal trauma, we hear from a team of ENT surgeons who treat service personnel with nasal injuries caused by blasts, shrapnel and gunshots. The article makes for sobering and inspiring reading.
Coming back to meetings, our calendar has been very full recently – the British Laryngological Association (of which I am proud to be a past-president) held its ‘Cutting Edge Laryngology’ meeting in London in September. On the audiology side, meetings of the EUHA (European Union of Hearing Aid Acousticians) and BAA (British Academy of Audiology) have recently been held in Hanover and Liverpool respectively; we will feature reports in the coming weeks. ESPO will be held in Prague in April 2027, and if you are coming to the EROC meeting in Dubai in January, be sure to pick up a copy of the magazine!
Finally, if it’s not too early to say this as you are reading this edition – Happy Christmas! If you are working over the holiday season, I hope you are able to get some rest and to spend time with your families and friends.
