Otolaryngology (pronounced oh-to-lar-en-ji) is a medical specialty that addresses health problems in the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck. Doctors in this specialty are called otolaryngologists and have advanced training in both surgery and medicine. They diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions, including ear infections, dizziness, sleep disorders, nasal obstruction, hearing loss, tumors and tinnitus.
Otolaryngologists work in clinics and hospital surgical settings. Their practice involves the treatment of people of all ages, from infants to adults. They have specialized knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the ears, nose and throat, as well as the chemical senses (including taste and smell), and the respiratory and upper alimentary systems.부산이비인후과
Many otolaryngologists have a special interest in a specific area, such as sinus disease, voice disorders or children’s ear, nose and throat problems. Some also have a background in plastic surgery and can offer cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty or face lifts.
Because the ear, nose and throat are all interconnected, a health problem in one area can affect others. For example, an ear infection can cause hearing loss or tinnitus, and a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea can lead to dry mouth, headaches and fatigue. That is why it’s important to have a primary care physician who can manage general health issues and coordinate with other specialists as needed.
After four years of college and medical school, otolaryngologists spend five additional years in residency to become fully trained and ready to practice. Some doctors choose to go on and complete a fellowship program in a particular subspecialty, such as pediatric otolaryngology or facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
An otolaryngologist can help you with problems such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere’s disease and other conditions that can make you feel like the world is spinning or moving. They can also help you find the source of your dizziness or tinnitus and suggest ways to reduce or eliminate it.부산수면다원검사
They can perform painless surgery to place ear tubes in the eardrums, which prevent fluid from building up behind the eardrum and cause frequent ear infections. They can also insert cochlear implants, which improve hearing for those with certain types of hearing loss.
Otolaryngologists can also help you solve breathing difficulties caused by nasal and sinus problems, such as snoring and sleep apnea. They can remove nasal polyps and other growths in a noninvasive way, or use radiofrequency thermal ablation to reduce tissue bulk to ease airflow through the nose and throat.
Otolaryngologists can correct congenital defects of the ear, nose and throat with cleft lip and palate surgery, or repair damage from accidents or previous surgeries. They can even do cosmetic facial surgery such as a facelift or rhinoplasty, and provide medical management for thyroid issues. They can even remove small tumors from the neck, under local anesthetic, and biopsy suspicious areas of the skin for cancer diagnosis.