Otolaryngology is the branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head & neck disorders. The full name of the specialty is otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Practitioners are called otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons, or sometimes otorhinolaryngologists (ORL). A commonly used term for this specialty is ENT (ear, nose and throat). The term comes from the Greek ωτολαρυγγολογία (oto = genitive for ear, laryngo = genitive for larynx/throat, logy = study) and it literally means the study of ear and neck. The full term ωτορινολαρυγγολογία (otorhinolaryngology), also includes rhino, which is the genitive of nose.

Explanation

Otolaryngologists are medical doctors (MD,MBBS,MBChB,etc.) or osteopathic doctors (DO) who complete at least five years of surgical residency training. Currently, this comprises one year in general surgical training and four years in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery; in the past it varied between two and three years of each. Otolaryngology is considered to be one of the most competitive residency fields to match into.

Following residency training, some otolaryngologists elect to complete advanced subspeciality fellowship training which can range from one to three years in duration.

Subspecialties

(*Currently recognized by American Board of Medical Subspecialties)

Topics in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Otology/Neuro-Otology

• Dizziness
  • BPPV - Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
  • labyrinthitis/vestibular neuronitis
  • Ménière's disease/Endolymphatic hydrops
  • Perilymphatic fistula
  • acoustic neuroma

• Hearing loss
• Mastoiditis
• Otitis externa - outer ear or ear canal inflammation
• Otitis media - middle ear inflammation
• Otitis interna - inner ear inflammation
• Perforated eardrum (hole in the eardrum due to infection, trauma, explosion or loud noise)

Rhinology (Sinus diseases and anterior skull base)

• Environmental Allergies
• Sinusitis - acute, chronic
• Rhinitis
• Empty nose syndrome

Pediatrics

• laryngomalacia
• Caustic Ingestion
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Pediatric
• Tonsillectomy
• Adenoidectomy
• Myringotomy and Tubes

Laryngology

• Dysphonia / Hoarseness
  • Laryngitis
  • Reinke's Edema
  • Vocal Cord Nodules & Polyps

• Spasmodic Dysphonia
• Tracheostomy
• The Professional Voice
• Cancer of the Larynx

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

• Rhinoplasty & Septoplasty
• Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
• Browlift
• Blepharoplasty
• Otoplasty
• Genioplasty
• Injectable Cosmetic Treatments
• Trauma to the Face
  • Nasal Bone Fracture
  • Mandible Fracture
  • Orbital Fracture
  • Frontal Sinus Fracture
  • Complex Lacerations and Soft Tissue Damage

Societies

• American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
• Canadian Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society
• British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists - Head & Neck Surgeons
• Association of Otolaryngology Administrators
• The Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery