Who are ENT specialists?
ENT specialists are doctors who treat ear, nose, and throat conditions. They finish at least decade-long training before practicing. Beginning with the training at a medical school, they learn in classrooms for the first two years. The following two years are spent in hands-on training.
After obtaining an MD or DO degree, medical school graduates must complete five years of residency training. Only then can they sit the state examination for becoming licensed to practice as an ENT specialist.
ENT has subspecialties, including:
- Allergy: These doctors specialize in treating allergies caused by pollen, food items, pets, etc. Allergy specialists may prescribe medicines or immunity shots.
- Reconstructive surgery: These specialists perform cosmetic surgeries like facelifts, nose jobs, etc. Such surgeries can also help people who experience severe scars on their faces due to accidents or those with deformities since birth.
- Pediatrics ENT: This subspecialty focuses on children with ENT issues. Children have special medical needs and require a tailored course of treatment. Common diagnoses include child hearing aches, pediatric sinusitis, etc.
- Laryngology: The branch of medicine deals with conditions in the larynx (popularly known as the voice box). Patients often report symptoms related to their voice or ability to swallow. These can be caused by conditions affecting the larynx — such as vocal fold nodules and cysts, laryngeal cancer, and papilloma.
- Otology: It's a branch of ENT that deals with neck and head surgery and includes the study of physiology and pathology. Examples of common procedures are tympanoplasty, ossiculoplasty, and mastoidectomy.
- Rhinology: ENT doctors specializing in rhinology focus on conditions related to the nose and sinuses.
Conditions treated by ENT specialists
Although ENT doctors treat almost any condition affecting the sinus regions, here are some of the most common ENT problems:
- Allergy: Ear, nose, and throat allergies result from the immune system's response to an allergen (such as pollen). Even if you usually suffer a mild allergic reaction, it may be unwise to ignore them — especially if they persist for a long time or hinder your day-to-day functioning. A few common allergens are dust, mold, animal dander, and pollen. Like most other ENT allergens, these are present in the air. Symptoms of an ENT allergy may include:
- Headaches
- Itching
- Earache
- Sore throat
Severe reactions like anaphylaxis are uncommon, but they can be life-threatening. The most effective way to treat mild symptoms is to avoid the allergens altogether — though this may not always be possible. In such cases, over-the-counter medicines are often prescribed. Alternatively, your ENT specialist may prescribe immune shots.
- Nasal Polyps: Nasal polyps are non-cancerous tissues (or mucous growth) inside the nose. Common causes include recurring sinus infections, asthma, cystic fibrosis, sensitivity to drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin, etc. Visit an ear, nose, & throat doctor near you if you happen to experience the following symptoms of nasal polyps:
- A sensation of blocked nose
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Snoring
- Sleep apnea
- Loss of smell
- Feeling pressure on the forehead
Medicine and nasal sprays can treat nasal polyps in the early stages. There are oral or injectable steroids, too. If the symptoms persist even after medication, the doctor might perform a minor surgery to remove the polyp.
- Tonsillitis: Infection in the tonsil is commonly known as tonsillitis. Tonsils are filters to trap germs that could get into our airways. They also make antibodies to help fight the infection-causing germs. However, they may become infected with viruses (or bacteria), leading to swelling and inflammation. Tonsillitis often recur. Patients with tonsillitis often report the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Pain in the throat
- Blisters in mouth
- Bad breath
- A scratchy or muffled voice
- Stiff neck
The course of treatment includes antibiotics. However, if the tonsil keeps recurring and doesn't go away, it may lead to difficulty in breathing or eating. In such cases, the doctor may suggest tonsillectomy surgery.
- Sleep Apnea: This sleep disorder causes difficulty in breathing while sleeping. Patients self-report issues like loud snoring, heart troubles, and tiredness. Other common signs of sleep apnea are:
- Pauses in breathing while sleeping.
- Choking while sleeping
- Being restless
- Dry mouth
- Night sweats
Sleep apnea is generally treated with lifestyle changes like weight loss or giving up smoking if the symptoms are in the early stage. If the symptoms do not go away with the lifestyle changes, doctors may prescribe an appliance, such as the continuous positive airway pressure mask, to be worn while sleeping.
What are the possible causes and symptoms of hearing loss?
Hearing loss causes include conditions such as diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension (high blood pressure), constant exposure to loud noise, damage caused by accidents or injury, and exposure to chemicals. Other causes are ear infections, ruptured eardrums, a family history of hearing loss, and tumors.
Symptoms of hearing loss include dizziness or balance problems, ringing in the ears, earache, constantly asking people to repeat themselves, not jumping at loud noises, inability to hear conversations on the phone or in a public place, or pressure inside the ear. Hearing loss can make one irritable, angry, or depressed because of feeling disconnected from the world. It is also linked to dementia in seniors and can cause children to struggle with poor grades in school.
Tinnitus: symptoms, causes, and treatment
Tinnitus is when one experiences ringing or other noises in one or both ears without any external sound. Someone experiencing tinnitus may hear buzzing, roaring, hissing, humming, or clicking sounds in their ear that only they can listen to. It often occurs in older adults, mainly due to age-related hearing loss. Other causes include an injury to the ear or an issue with the circulatory system.
Tinnitus symptoms often occur as a rhythmic whooshing or pulsing sound, primarily at the same time as the heartbeat. This condition is called pulsatile tinnitus; the doctor can also hear the sound while examining it. On the other hand, subjective tinnitus is when only you can listen to the sounds in your ear.
Both pulsatile and subjective tinnitus conditions vary in intensity and pitch, ranging from a high squeal-like sound to a low roar. Tinnitus symptoms may come and go or may be present at all times. Sometimes, the sound in the ear can be loud enough to interfere with the usual routine functioning of the individual and affect their ability to concentrate or hear external sounds. If this happens, you must seek medical attention. Pay attention if the tinnitus has resulted from an upper respiratory infection and has not subsided in a week. If your tinnitus is accompanied by dizziness, hearing loss, anxiety, or depression, you must promptly book a session with an ear, nose, & throat doctor near you.
To diagnose tinnitus, your doctor will note your medical history and undertake physical examinations, hearing tests, MRI scans, etc. Treating the underlying condition can help treat tinnitus. If that is not possible, your ENT doctor can recommend techniques to soothe the symptoms or reduce the condition's impact. Some examples include using hearing aids or sound generators, learning relaxation techniques, receiving counseling and therapy, etc.
Tinnitus occurrence can be prevented by adopting certain habits, such as using earplugs to protect the ears when in a situation where there is loud music or sound or keeping the volume low when using earbuds or headphones.
ENT or Audiologist: who should you consult for hearing problems?
Many types of healthcare providers are qualified to treat problems with hearing. This includes ENT doctors and audiologists. Learning the difference between providers and assessing your symptoms may help you decide which provider you should visit.
The key difference between an ENT doctor and an audiologist lies in their education and training, the treatment provided, as well as their scope of practice.
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who focus on managing conditions that affect hearing and balance and can treat all individuals, from infants to teens and adults. They screen individuals for hearing loss, diagnose conditions like tinnitus and vertigo, offer hearing aids and other assistive devices, perform vestibular testing to check the inner ear's balance function and collaborate with other providers like speech-language pathologists and physical therapists. To practice, audiologists need to earn a doctor of audiology (AuD) degree and be registered or have a license in their respective state. Some audiologists receive a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) or doctor of science (ScD) degree in hearing and balance. Some also specialize in specific populations like children, conditions like tinnitus, and programming devices like cochlear implants. It is important to note that while audiologists are not medical doctors like ENT doctors, they do spend a total of eight to ten years to become qualified in hearing and balance disorders. See an audiologist if you experience asymmetrical hearing, a roaring or ringing sound in your ears, mild hearing loss, and if you are younger than 18 and need over-the-counter hearing aids.
The specialty of ENT or otolaryngology extends to not only the ears but also the nose, throat, head, and neck. ENTs can diagnose multiple conditions of the ear and also find out if another underlying medical problem in your body is affecting your hearing. They are trained to perform surgical operations and prescribe medications. ENT doctors who specialize in ear conditions are called otologists or neurotologists. These specialists are experts in diagnosing hard-to-treat or recurrent middle ear problems. They also treat complex ear diseases, acoustic neuromas (tumors in the ear), chronic ear infections, and vertigo that does not improve. They are also trained to perform complicated ear surgeries. Neurotologists focus on the treatment of neurological-related and inner ear concerns, such as skull base tumors, implantable hearing devices like cochlear implants, and bone conduction hearing aids. Visit an otolaryngologist if you experience sudden hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss), have pain or discomfort in one or both ears, or have active fluid from the ears. Moreover, ENT doctors often work closely with audiologists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.
If you are still unsure about which provider to see for your hearing problems, consider visiting your primary care physician, who may conduct an initial examination and refer you to the appropriate provider.
Find an ear, nose, & throat doctor near you in Austin, TX
Choosing an ENT specialist can be difficult — especially when looking for a high-quality doctor with the right experience and training.
Zocdoc is an online platform that rescues you from the hassles of searching for a doctor, matching insurance, commuting, and so on. You can book an appointment with the leading ENT doctor in Austin within minutes. Just enter a specialty, procedure, or condition, and Zocdoc's powerful algorithms will match you with the top-rated specialists in your neighborhood.
Providers can be sorted based on their specialization, gender, hospital affiliation, and more. If you're worried about seeing a specialist for the first time, look at their profile. All Zocdoc providers have a dedicated profile that mentions their awards, publications, board certifications, and clinical interests.
You can also search for ENT doctors who accept your insurance. If you are not able to find your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, you can try uploading a photo of your insurance card and letting Zocdoc scan the image of your card to show you your likely plan. Note that this service is available only for medical insurance cards. Dental or vision insurance cards are excluded. If you need assistance uploading your medical insurance card, contact Zocdoc's dedicated service team, available 365 days a year, to help you solve any issues or queries regarding the platform. You may also access Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related information.
You can also look at verified customer reviews to make an informed choice. All bookings are safe, secure, and 100% free.
ENT statistics in Austin
According to the data provided by the government of Austin, Texas, more than 16% of the adult population in Austin use smokeless tobacco or are regular smokers — which may be a significant risk factor for oral and throat cancer for the city's residents. Compounding this risk, almost 50% of the adult population in Austin reported levels of physical activity that were lower than the recommended levels.
According to the American Cancer Society reports, 11.2 % of the adult population have suffered from cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx; another 2.9% of the people have been diagnosed with larynx cancer.
Sources
WebMD
American Cancer Society
AustinTexas.gov
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic
Cleveland Clinic[2]
American Academy of Audiology
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Duke Health
