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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:58 what do otolaryngologists do?
1:07 The ear
1:39 The ear
1:59 The throat
2:35 Head and neck
2:56 otolaryngologists and similar medical fields
3:30 When to see an otolaryngologists
• Otolaryngologists are medical professionals who specifically cater to the ears, nose, and throat of the body – or three of the most prominent openings.
• They are commonly called ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists.
• ENT specialists have been a part of the medical profession since 1896, which makes them the oldest recognized professional medical specialists in the US.
• ENT specialists are both medical doctors and surgeons. They have the accreditation and skills to surgically treat conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.
• Moreover, otolaryngologists can treat various conditions, such as fungal and chronic infections, oropharyngeal cancer, hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea.
• Here’s everything you need to know about them:
What Do Otolaryngologists Do?
The conditions that otolaryngologists provide their services for are dependent on the part of the body that needs to be treated, specifically:
The Ear
The ear is an essential organ and damage to it can negatively affect a person’s quality of life. Here are the ear conditions an otolaryngologist can treat:
• Ear pain
• Chronic ear infections
• Tinnitus
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Impacted earwax.
• Ruptured eardrum
• Hearing loss
• Ear tumors
• Meniere’s Disease
• Otosclerosis
• Middle ear fluid
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Fractures to the temporal bone
The Nose
The nose is an essential organ, and otolaryngologists can treat the following conditions affecting it:
• Sinusitis
• Rhinitis
• Allergies
• Nosebleeds
• Postnatal drip
• Nasal polyps
• Smell disorders
• Deviated septum
• Obstructed breathing by the nose
The Throat
The throat is responsible for both eating and breathing, making it one of the most important sections of the human body. Here are the conditions relating to the throat that otolaryngologists can treat:
• Swallowing disorders
• Sore throat
• Hoarseness while speaking
• Laryngitis
• Vocal cord disorders
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Throat tumors
• Conditions affecting the adenoids
• Complications in the tonsils
• Snoring
• Sleep apnea
• Issues in the airways, such as subglottic stenosis
Head and Neck
Otolaryngologists can also provide treatment to some conditions in the head and neck, such as:
• Tumors in the head or neck
• Infections that focus on the head or neck
• Facial injuries
• Deformities
• Congenital neck masses
• Thyroid conditions
• Free flap reconstruction
Otolaryngologists and Similar Medical Fields
• Otolaryngologists can often be confused with other medical specialists.
• Among them are rhinologists, who particularly focus on the nose and sinuses.
• Rhinologists are specialized ENT specialists.
• Similarly, a laryngologist focuses on the throat area, specifically the larynx (voice box), pharynx, and all the tissues that surround them.
• Finally, audiologists are medical professionals who focus specifically on the hearing and balance aspects of the human body.
When to See an Otolaryngologist?
• Your medical doctor or physician can typically prescribe treatment for several complications of the ear, nose, and throat.
• However, they could defer you to an otolaryngologist if the symptoms show up regularly and for extensive periods.
• It is typically advised to see an ENT specialist if you are facing prolonged issues with your ear, nose, or throat.
• You can ask your medical doctor to defer you to a good ENT specialist if you have trouble finding one.
• Make sure to find the best person for the job, much like you would with a medical doctor.
