ENT

Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialist ( ENT Specialist)

Ear, nose and throat specialists, also called ENTs, ENT doctors and otolaryngologists, specialize in otolaryngology. Otolaryngologists diagnose, manage and treat disorders of the head and neck, including the ears, nose throat, sinuses, voice box (larynx) and other structures. Otolaryngology is a surgical specialty and ENTs are trained in the medical and surgical management of disease.

ENT Infections

Although there is a wide range of symptoms that can be associated with conditions of the ear, nose, and throat, some of the most common include but are not limited to:

The Ear
The unique domain of the ear; nose and throat specialist is treatment of ear disorders. This includes medical and surgical treatment for hearing disorders, ear infections, balance disorders, facial nerve or cranial nerve disorders, as well as management of congenital (birth) and cancerous disorders of the outer and inner ear

The Nose
Care of the nasal cavity and sinuses is one of the primary skills of the ENT specialist. Management of disorders of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, allergies, sense of smell, and nasal respiration (breathing), as well as the external appearance of the nose are part of an. ENT’s area of expertise.

The Throat
Also specific to the ENT specialty is expertise in managing diseases of the larynx (voice box) and the upper aerodigestive tract or esophagus including disorders of the voice respiration (breathing), and swallowing.

  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • Painful or swollen ear(s)
  • Ringing or buzzing sounds (tinnitus)
  • Hearing loss
  • Thick drainage from the ear(s) or Ear discharge
  • Blocked or full sensation in the ear
  • Deafness or difficulty in understanding speech
  • Giddiness
  • Tongue tie
  • Excessive snoring, that causes frequent waking
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Post nasal discharge
  • Foul odour
  • Mouth breathing
  • Nasal blockage
  • Watery eyes
  • Itchy eyes
  • Sneezing
  • Runny nose
  • Itchy nose
  • Nosebleeds
  • Loss of smell or anosmia
  • Sore or swollen throat
  • Loss of voice (laryngitis)
  • Sore or swollen neck
  • Jaw pain
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Stammering
  • Swellings in neck or behind ears
  • Thyroid disease
  • Facial palsy
  • Insects /foreign body

The Head and Neck

In the head and neck area, an ENT specialist is trained to treat infectious diseases, tumors (both benign and malignant/cancerous), facial trauma, and deformities of the face. They perform both cosmetic plastic and reconstructive surgery.

An ENT specialist may work with a team of doctors in other medical and surgical specialties. Common ground is shared with neurosurgery in treating skull base disorders; plastic surgery in correcting cosmetic and traumatic deformities; ophthalmology in treating structural abnormalities near the eye; oral surgery in treating jaw and dental trauma; allergy in managing sinus disease; dermatology in caring for skin cancers; oncology in managing head and neck cancers; and pediatrics and family practice in caring for common infectious, congenital, traumatic, and malignant (cancerous) diseases and disorders in the pediatric and general population.