Otolaryngology

The specialty of Otolaryngology is also referred to as "Ear, Nose, and Throat", and as "Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery". As that name implies, this is a specialty in modern Medicine that is a regional surgical subspecialty, that is, physicians trained in this specialty are considered expert in operations of the face, head and neck. However, since that region of the body contains the nose and upper airways and the ears, there are otolaryngologists who concentrate their practice on hearing loss, and others who are more concerned with nasal obstruction and the symptoms of inhalent allergy that are centered on the upper airway. Many otolaryngologists, although trained in surgery, practice more as medical subspecialists because treatment and diagnosis of problems associated with these areas often require medical rather than operative treatment. The larynx (or voice box) is an important part of the upper airway, and all otolaryngologists are trained in examination of the vocal cords.

Like all of the various medical specialties, there is overlap of the ENT's province of patient care, and that of other physicians.