Who are ear, nose, and throat doctors?
Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors are qualified to diagnose, treat, and manage health conditions affecting those body parts. Alternatively, they are known as otolaryngologists. These healthcare professionals offer both medical and surgical care. They practice in various settings, such as private practice, clinics, and hospitals.
The daily responsibilities of an ear, nose, & throat doctor near you include:
- Understanding patients' symptoms and concerns
- Reviewing medical records
- Conducting comprehensive physical exams and diagnostic tests
- Explaining the conditions
- Preparing individualized treatment plans
- Offering lifestyle counseling
- Answering patients' and caregivers' queries
- Scheduling follow-up appointments
- Performing surgeries
- Managing care with other specialists
Education and training of ENT specialists
ENT doctors must undergo many years of education and training before seeing patients. They begin their journey by earning a four-year bachelor's degree in science-related subjects such as biology and chemistry. Then, they enroll in a medical school to complete a four-year medical degree. Later, ENT aspirants complete a five-year residency training program in otolaryngology under the supervision of experienced medical professionals.
After that, ENT doctors can pass the required exams to obtain their state practice license. They can also specialize for 1-2 years in areas such as pediatrics, sleep medicine, laryngology, rhinology, and reconstructive surgery, to name a few. ENT doctors must also take oral, written, and clinical examinations to receive certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology.
Surgeries performed by ENT specialists
ENT doctors specialize in treating ear, nose, and throat conditions. While most cases are usually treatable with medications, there may be complications. These instances may require surgery by the ENT specialist.
Some of these surgeries may be non-invasive. For example, your ENT specialist may perform treatments such as nasal endoscopy to treat nasal polyps or sinus infections. In this procedure, an endoscope (a thin and flexible tube) is inserted in the sinuses to assess inflammation or abnormal growth.
Reasons to consult an ENT doctor
You should see an ear, nose, & throat doctor near you if you have long-term throat, ear, or sinus problems.
- Ear infection: Ear infections are a typical reason to visit an ENT doctor. ENTs often treat these with antibiotics, but the patient may need surgery if the conditions persist.
- Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils. Doctors usually treat it with antibiotics, but if it persists, they may recommend that you have your tonsils removed.
- Hearing loss: Hearing loss is natural as you age. However, unexpected hearing loss can be a sign of something severe. In either case, an ENT doctor will be able to identify what is wrong and assist you in getting any necessary treatments to enhance your hearing. If you need hearing aids, your ENT may refer you to an audiologist.
- Lumps: A lump in the neck that lasts longer than two weeks may indicate throat, mouth, thyroid, or blood cancer. Cancers that begin in these locations tend to grow in the throat's lymph nodes.
- A child that snores often: Snoring is prevalent among adults but uncommon among youngsters. It may not be a symptom of a significant problem, but you should consult with your pediatrician to see if they suggest visiting an ENT. It may indicate sleep apnea, which can cause bedwetting or behavioral or academic issues due to lack of sleep.
- Tinnitus: This symptom is your brain's reaction to alterations such as ear or sinus infections. Tinnitus involves ear ringing, although it can also sound like buzzing, roaring, or clicking. An ENT specialist investigates the origin of tinnitus and treats it or recommends management approaches and gadgets.
- Balance disorders: Some balance disorders, such as vertigo, are caused by problems inside your ear. An ENT doctor performs tests to determine the source of the problem and then treats it. They can also send you to a vestibular therapist, who can help you with your concerns.
ENT Surgeries
Sinus surgery
Sinuses are cavities near the nasal tube, located in the forehead, eyes, and passageways behind the nose. Sinus problems may affect thicker linings and polyps and cause recurrent infections.
Sinus surgery is broadly of four types:
- Functional endoscopic sinus surgery: The procedure clears the airway and restores normal sinus function—usually, sinusitis patients need this surgery.
- Turbinate reduction surgery: Turbinates are fleshy structures that help filter the air. They can become enlarged due to allergies, infections, weather changes, etc., and cause difficulty breathing. The surgeon must remove turbinates to open the airway.
- Balloon sinuplasty: This procedure is for people with recurring sinusitis. The surgeon uses a small balloon inside the nose to dilate the sinus openings.
Surgeons have to ensure the use of local or general anesthesia during surgery. They will use a small medical telescope to get a detailed look at the condition of the sinus.
While the surgeries are primarily harmless, there might be complications in a few cases, where the patient might experience bleeding, a problem with vision, or a decreased sense of smell. Surgery performed on the ethmoid sinus can have the risk of creating a leak in the fluid surrounding the brain that requires follow-up surgery to fix.
Sinus surgeries usually do not require overnight hospitalization; however, follow-up checkups are necessary. The patient must take preventive measures to avoid any blow to the sinus during post-surgery recovery.
Sleep apnea surgery
Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder, causes disruptive sleep due to breathing difficulties. It can lead to multiple health complications, such as high blood pressure and metabolic issues. Usually, sleep apnea is treatable with lifestyle changes or medications. However, if the symptoms persist, the doctor might perform surgery to tackle the problem.
Different surgical procedures for sleep apnea are:
- Radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR): If breathing devices like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines do not improve the symptoms, the doctor might recommend RFTVR. The procedure uses radiofrequency waves to remove or shrink the tissues in the throat to clear the airway. It is primarily performed to treat loud snoring and can be helpful for apnea.
- Genioglossus advancement: This procedure tightens the tongue tendons and prevents the tongue from rolling back.
- Maxillomandibular advancement: Also known as jaw repositioning, the procedure moves the jaw forward, creating more space behind the tongue to open the airway. Therefore, it helps reduce the severity of sleep apnea.
- Lingual tonsillectomy: This procedure involves removing the tonsil and the tonsillar tissues to lower the part of the throat and facilitate breathing.
- Septoplasty: People with bent nasal septums that make breathing difficult must undergo septoplasty, a procedure that straightens the nasal septum for easier breathing.
Tonsillectomy
The procedure of surgically removing the tonsil is known as tonsillectomy. People who need tonsillectomy suffer from the following issues:
- Difficulty in breathing due to swollen tonsil
- Loud snoring
- Disruptive breathing during sleep
- Bleeding in the tonsils
- Cancer in tonsil
Several procedures are followed to perform a tonsillectomy. One standard procedure is cold-knife dissection, where the surgeon removes the tonsil with a scalpel. Another widely practiced method is burning the tonsil tissues through cauterization. Some tonsillectomy procedures involve using sound waves. The provider administers general anesthesia during these surgeries. While recovering, the patient might experience pain and have a sore throat. Painkillers and a liquid diet can help in post-surgery recovery.
Finding an ear, nose, & throat doctor near you in Denver, CO
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ENT Conditions in the U.S. and Colorado
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorder reports, nearly 15% of adults in America experience trouble hearing. According to the data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 46,667 new cases of cancer of the pharynx and oral cavity were reported in the USA. In recent reports by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), men in Colorado are more susceptible to oropharyngeal cancer or throat cancer than men in other states of the USA.
Sources
Healthline
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
WebMD[3]
Cleveland Clinic
ENT Physicians Inc
