Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Otorhinolaryngology, or ENT, is a medical field that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and surgery of illnesses affecting the ear, nose, throat and sinus. These three areas are all connected and can often affect each other, so ENT doctors are trained in a variety of diagnostic and treatment procedures to handle such different issues. For Otorhinolaryngology specialization, 6 years of medical education and then 5 years of specialization in otolaryngology is required.

ENT specialists are trained medical doctors to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, from common colds and allergies to more complex issues such as ear cancers. ENT clinics are one of the most visited units of hospitals accommodating needs of patients of all ages.

A few prevalent conditions that ENT deal with are:

• Ear nose and throat infection,
• Cold and flu,
• Pharyngitis and laryngitis,
• Nasal bone curvature and fracture,
• Adenoid and tonsil problems,
• Hearing problems,
• Snoring and sleep apnea,
• Earwax blockages,
• Sinusitis,
• Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia),
• Vertigo,
• Allergies,
• Nodules and polyps that develop in the ear, nose, or throat,
• Issues related to the vocal cords, such as hoarseness or vocal cord nodules,
• Other problems related to ear, throat or nose.

In addition to medication and surgery, diseases of the nose, throat and ear may also require lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or reducing alcohol consumption. Ears nose and throat department specialists also play a vital role in maintaining good overall ear, nose, and throat health. If you're experiencing any issues with your ears, nose, or throat, or if you want to learn more about how to take care of these parts of your body, a doctor ENT specialist can help. Whether you're dealing with a persistent headache, trouble hearing, or sinus problems, an ear and nose throat specialist has the training and expertise to help you find relief.

 

Common Diagnoses and Treatments in the Ears Nose, and Throat Medical Branch

Otorhinolaryngology, or ENT, frequently helps to treat conditions that impact the ear and any infection in nose and throat. Around the world, people of all ages and genders can often suffer from ear, nose or throat diseases. Some most common fields that ENT doctors diagnose and treat include:

Ear Infections

Ear infections are one of the most common health problems faced by ENT medical branches. Ear infections are classified as middle ear infection, inner ear infection and outer ear infection, according to the region where the infection develops in the ear.

Hearing Loss Treatment and Hearing Aids

Many conditions such as advanced age, accidents and traumas, and ear diseases can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss in the ear. However, congenital complete or partial deafness of hearing can also be seen. Various treatment options can be used for permanent hearing loss. The use of tympanostomy tubes, cochlear implant treatment, speech, and reading therapies, or treatment with drugs can be applied. Hearing aids, which are small electronic devices attached to the back of the ear, can also be used for losses that cannot be treated with such methods. These devices, which make it easier to hear, understand and communicate by making the sounds reaching the ear stronger, can significantly improve the quality of life in patients with severe hearing loss.

Sinusitis Treatment

Ear pain, also known as otalgia or earache, is a common symptom of sinus diseases. It occurs when the sinuses, air-filled spaces in the facial bones, become infected or inflamed. The sinuses are connected to the ears through the eustachian tubes, which can become blocked when the sinuses are infected or inflamed. This ear sinus disorder can lead to pressure and pain in the ears. The treatment should be planned for the patient by identifying the problem causing the pain and can include surgical techniques.

Cholesteatoma

It is a non-cancerous growth that can occur in the middle ear, behind the eardrum. It is made up of skin cells that have become trapped in the ear and have grown out of control. Cholesteatoma can cause various severe symptoms and also cause damage to the bones in the middle ear and can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Treatment typically involves cholesteatoma surgery to remove the growth and repair any damage to the ear. In certain instances, additional treatment procedures or medications may be required to prevent further infections.

Nasal Diseases

• Nasal Sinus Diseases

Nasal sinus diseases are conditions that affect the nose sinus, which are located in the bones of the face around the nose. Some common nasal sinus diseases include sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), nasal polyps (non-cancerous growths in the lining of the nose and sinuses), and a deviated septum (a crooked or off-center bone and cartilage that divides the nostrils).

• Paranasal Sinus Diseases

Paranasal sinuses are a group of four pairs of sinuses located in the bones of the face around the nose. They include the frontal sinuses (located in the forehead), the ethmoid sinuses, the sphenoid sinuses, and the maxillary sinuses. Medication or surgery may be included in the treatment plan.

• Diseases in the Throat

Throat health is an important part of overall health, as the throat is a vital part of the respiratory and digestive systems. Most people do not need to see a doctor for the throat or apply quite late. However, throat diseases can be life-threatening when they progress.

 

Types of Surgery Performed in Otolaryngology Clinics

Ear Surgeries

• Tube application
• Tympanoplasty (Membrane Repair)
• Stapedectomy
• Mastoidectomy
• Cochlear implantation
• Brainstem implantation
• Application of bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA, Bone Bridge)
• Endolymphatic sac decompression
• Labyrinthectomy
• Vestibular neurectomy
• Acoustic neuroma surgery
• Glomus tumors surgery

Nose-Sinus Surgeries

• Septoplasty
• Septorhinoplasty
• Rhinoplasty
• Endoscopic sinus surgery
• Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy
• Endoscopic optic nerve decompression
• Endoscopic CSF fistula repair
• Nasal and sinus tumors surgery

Head-Neck Cancer Surgeries

• Laryngectomy
• Glossectomy
• Maxillectomy
• Parotidectomy
• Thyroidectomy (Minimally Invasive)
• Submandibular gland excision
• Neck dissection
• Skull base surgery

Pediatric ENT Surgeries

• Tonsillectomy (tonsils)
• Adenoidectomy
• Opening choanal atresia
• Opening external auditory canal stenosis
• Auriculoplasty
• Subglottic and tracheal stenosis surgery
• Snoring surgery
• Voice surgery
• Maxillofacial trauma surgery

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Operations

In facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, ENT specialists treat drooping eyelids, cleft palates, ear deformities, hair loss, facial paralysis, trauma reconstruction, head and neck cancer reconstruction, operations and revisions of facial cosmetic surgery. Many types of operations such as adenoid operations, rhinoplasty, outer ear operations are some of the operations that otolaryngologists frequently perform in the field of plastic surgery.

 

Helping You Find the Best Doctor for the Throat, Ear, and Nose

Otorhinolaryngology, or ENT, is both an internal and a surgical specialty that deals with many different diseases. All three areas are all connected and can often affect each other with many different infectional problems. So ENT doctors are trained to diagnose and treat varying types and levels of ear nose & throat diseases.

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