What is Otolaryngologist:
Otolaryngologists (pronounced
oh/toe/lair/in/goll/oh/gists) are physicians trained in the medical and surgical management and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat (ENT), and related structures of the head and neck. They are commonly referred to as ENT physicians.
Their special skills include diagnosing and managing diseases of the sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral cavity, and upper pharynx (mouth and throat), as well as structures of the neck and face.
Otolaryngologists diagnose, treat, and manage specialty-specific disorders as well as many primary care problems in both children and adults.
Otolaryngologist specialists differ from many physicians in that they are trained in both medicine and surgery.
Examples of the types of complaints ENT physicians treat are:
Otology/Neurotology: diseases of the ear, including trauma (injury), cancer, and nerve pathway disorders, which best for Canadians affect hearing and balance.
Examples: ear infection; swimmer’s ear; hearing loss; ear, face, or neck pain; dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Pediatric Otolaryngology: diseases in children with special ENT problems including birth defects in the head and neck and developmental delays.
Examples: ear infection, tonsil and adenoid infection, airway problems, asthma and allergy/sinus disease.
Allergy: treatment by medication, immunotherapy (allergy shots) and/or avoidance of pollen, dust, mold, food, and other sensitivities that affect the ear, nose, and throat.
Examples: hay fever, seasonal and perennial rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, laryngitis, sore throat, otitis media, dizziness.
Laryngology: disorders of the throat, including voice and swallowing problems.
Examples: sore throat, hoarseness, swallowing disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Rhinology: disorders of the nose and sinuses.
Examples: sinus disorder, nose bleed, stuffy nose, loss of smell.
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: cosmetic, functional, and reconstructive surgical treatment of abnormalities of the face and neck.
Examples: deviated septum, rhinoplasty (nose), face lift, cleft palate, drooping eyelids, hair loss.
Head and Neck: cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the head and neck, including the thyroid and parathyroid.
Examples: lump in the neck or thyroid, cancer of the voice box.
