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Who are ENT specialists and otolaryngology head and neck surgeons?

Otolaryngology is a medical field that concerns the diagnosis, identification, and treatment of five of the human body's most vital organs: the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. Physicians specializing in this field are often known as ear, nose, and throat specialists and undergo a 15-year medical training program. Aspiring candidates must attend college, enroll in a medical school, complete internships and residency training, and pursue fellowships as part of this curriculum. The American Board of Otolaryngology, a nationally recognized organization, certifies ENT specialists. ENT specialists run their practice, work with other clinics, or are affiliated with hospitals and medical centers.

An otolaryngology head and neck surgeon is a healthcare expert qualified to give complete surgical and medical care to patients with problems of the ears, respiratory and upper alimentary tract, and the corresponding head and neck structures.

Conditions treated by ENT specialists

General otolaryngologists, commonly known as ENTs, do not restrict their practice to one head and neck section. They can treat multiple conditions affecting their parts. However, functionally, the head and neck are divided into designated areas, each presenting a unique group of symptoms and disorders. Such regions of the head and neck that ENTs manage include: 

• Ear (neurotology/otology): Balance and hearing are two critical aspects of a normal-functioning ear. ENTs treat balance disorders such as vertigo and other ear conditions such as infections, hearing loss, dizziness, and ear pain.
• Nose (rhinology): The nose facilitates breathing by avoiding potentially harmful allergens, dirt, and other harmful agents. Apart from allergies, ENT specialists also treat rhinitis, deviated septum, sinusitis, nasal obstructions, sinus headaches and migraines, polyps, and skull-base tumors, including those inside the cranial cavity.
• Throat (laryngology): Disorders that may affect one's ability to speak and swallow can significantly impact one's livelihood. ENT specialists can treat sore throat, hoarseness, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), throat infections, tumors, and airway and vocal cord disorders.
• Head and neck/thyroid: The head and neck are pivotal organs, susceptible to tumors and cancer. In addition to cancers, ENTs can treat benign neck masses, thyroid disorders such as enlarged thyroid glands, benign and malignant thyroid tumors, Grave's disease, and parathyroid disease.
• Sleep: Sleeping through the night and breathing comfortably mid-sleep can significantly impact how you experience life and perform your daily responsibilities. ENTs treat snoring, sleep apnea, sleep-disordered breathing, and nasal and airway obstruction.
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery: An injury, congenital disability, accident, or medical condition can induce facial trauma, which can have distressing and even permanent effects on appearance. During plastic or reconstructive surgery, ENTs treat droopy eyelids, hair loss, ear deformities, trauma reconstruction, and facial paralysis. They also perform cosmetic surgeries on the face.
• Pediatrics: ENTs who receive training in pediatric health can manage congenital disabilities of the head and neck, development delays, asthma, allergy, airway problems, ear infections, and tonsil and adenoid infections. They can also manage cleft lips and cleft palates.

Subspecialties in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery

• Head and neck oncology: Head and neck cancers comprise about 4% of all cancer cases in the US. Head and neck malignancies are twice as common in men as in women. Cancers of the throat, oral cavity, voice box, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses, and nasal cavity are all head and neck cancers. Alcohol and tobacco use, occupational and radiation exposure, and underlying genetic problems are only a few factors. These specialists can use surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of head and neck cancer treatments. Various criteria determine the treatment approach for a patient, including the tumor's location, cancer stage, the patient's age, and general condition.
• Microvascular surgery: The procedure performed to restore tissue defects, which includes the transfer of vascularized tissue, is known as microvascular reconstructive surgery. Usually, parts of the human body, including the jaws and lips, the throat, and all aspects of the face, scalp, and neck, are all regularly restored by surgeons. Various donor locations are accessible for transplantation, depending on the defect site, induced by trauma or head and neck malignancy.
• Otology/neurotology: Physicians specializing in this field treat severe hearing loss, cholesteatoma, and malignancies involving the ear and skull. They also offer therapy for milder problems such as hearing loss, osteosclerosis, acoustic neuromas, chronic ear infections, and cochlear implant procedures.
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery for facial deformities: Otolaryngology head and neck surgeons can also perform cosmetic procedures to give the face a more youthful and appealing appearance. Changing the form of the nose (or rhinoplasty,) ears, chin, cheekbones, and neckline are all possible procedures. Facial rejuvenation also utilizes non-invasive procedures. Congenital, traumatic, and post-surgical abnormalities are all treated with reconstructive surgery. Skin cancer patients may also require facial repairs.

Common otolaryngology procedures

Ear, nose, and throat specialists perform various procedures to address issues related to the head and neck. Some standard otolaryngology procedures include:

• Endoscopic sinus surgery: A minimally invasive procedure where small tubes are inserted into the sinus passages to alleviate blockages and restore normal sinus function, often relieving chronic sinusitis symptoms.
• Neck dissection: Surgery to remove neck lymph nodes, often done to prevent the spread of cancer originating from the mouth or throat.
• Septoplasty: A corrective surgery to straighten the nasal septum and the partition between the nostrils, usually carried out to relieve breathing problems brought on by a deviated septum.
• Excision and biopsy: This procedure involves the removal of abnormal tissue, such as tumors, for further examination to diagnose or treat conditions like cancer.
• Blepharoplasty: This surgical technique includes the excision of extra or drooping skin from the upper eyelids, improving aesthetic appearance and vision obstruction.
• Facial plastic surgery: Otolaryngologists may perform a range of medical and cosmetic procedures to enhance facial features or correct deformities, including rhinoplasty (nose job), rhytidectomy (facelift), and genioplasty (chin augmentation).
• Myringotomy and pressure equalization tube placement: Commonly performed on children with recurrent ear infections, this procedure involves making a small incision in the eardrum to insert a tiny tube that helps drain fluid and equalize pressure in the middle ear.
• Thyroid surgery: Often performed to treat thyroid cancer or thyroid disorders, this surgery involves the partial or complete removal of the thyroid gland.
• Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Procedures such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) involve removing excess tissue from the throat to widen the airway, reduce snoring, and improve breathing during sleep.
• Tracheostomy: This surgical operation inserts a tube straight into the trachea through a tiny incision in the neck to assist breathing. Otolaryngologists commonly use it in cases of severe airway obstruction or prolonged mechanical ventilation.
• Tympanoplasty: A surgical treatment that repairs a perforated or damaged eardrum, restores hearing, and prevents recurrent middle ear infections.
• Tonsillectomy: Surgical removal of the tonsils, usually performed to treat recurrent tonsillitis, breathing difficulties, or sleep apnea.

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Hearing loss statistics in the United States

Global statistics -

According to the World Health Organization, over 5% of the global population, or over 430 million people, require complete rehabilitation for hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children).

Experts predict that by 2050, approximately 2.5 billion people will experience hearing loss. Of this population, at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation.

Due to dangerous listening habits, almost 1 billion young individuals risk irreversible, avoidable hearing loss.

To learn how to protect your hearing, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has released an infographic -- click here to view it.

Nation-wide statistics -

Infants, babies, and children: About 0.2% of babies in the US are born with hearing loss. Nearly 6,000 babies in the United States were born in 2019 with permanent hearing loss.

In typically 50-60% of cases, hereditary factors cause the loss of hearing recorded in newborns.

Approximately two out of every 100 babies in the United States fail hearing screening exams.

Teenagers: Around 40% of young adults diagnosed with hearing loss as children said they had at least one daily function impairment.

Routine hearing evaluations reveal that one in eight Americans (13 percent, or 30 million) 12 years and older have bilateral hearing loss.

Hearing loss affects at least one of every five teenagers in the United States.

Adults: Approximately 15% of the United States's total population—37.5 million citizens —reportedly suffers from hearing difficulties.

Hearing loss affects nearly twice as many males as women between 20 and 69.

In 2009, the yearly Veterans Affairs disability payouts for tinnitus and hearing loss topped $1.2 billion, and the trend continues.

Veterans: 2.7 million veterans have hearing problems or receive treatment for hearing-related ailments due to their service.

More than 445,000 veterans are receiving compensation for hearing loss caused by military duty, and another 395,000 are receiving compensation for tinnitus caused by military service.

Sources

Mayo Clinic

World Health Organization

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

American College of Surgeons

MedicineNet

WebMD

American Society of Plastic Surgeons[1]

American Society of Plastic Surgeons[1]

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.