Otolaryngology is the field of medicine primarily concerned with problems with the ear, nose and throat. An otolaryngologist is a head and neck surgeon who diagnoses and provides comprehensive medical treatment for the ears, nose, sinuses, throat, respiratory system, and other head and neck systems. This specialist also performs plastic and reconstructive surgery on the face, and treats disorders of the larynx (voicebox) and hearing.

Other areas of concern to the otolaryngologist are treatment of diseases, allergies and related disorders of the head. Otolaryngology is commonly called ENT, because it primarily deals with the ear, nose and throat.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are sleep apnea, Dizziness, Hearing loss, Snoring, Sinusitis, Mastoiditis, Laryngitis, Head and neck cancer, Rhinitis, Pharyngitis, Otitis media, acoustic neuroma, Thyroid cancer, Tonsillitis, labyrinthitis, Hyperparathyroidism, Deviated septum, Otitis interna, Environmental Allergies, and Parotitis.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Chemotherapy, bronchoscopy, brow lift, Tonsillectomy, face lift, septoplasty, Radiation therapy, myringotomy, Endocrine surgery, surgical Reconstruction, Voice therapy, and Phono-surgery.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including x-ray, Blood Test, Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), skin test, Laryngeal Exam, microbiological culture, and Submandibular Exam.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 9,549 practicing otolaryngologists. Broken out by state, otolaryngology doctor density in Alabama is 164, in Alaska is 30, in Arizona is 134, in Arkansas is 78, in California is 1,073, in Colorado is 143, in Connecticut is 119, in Delaware is 22, in District of Columbia is 74, in Florida is 536, in Georgia is 280, in Hawaii is 43, in Idaho is 33, in Illinois is 400, in Indiana is 209, in Iowa is 134, in Kansas is 96, in Kentucky is 131, in Louisiana is 221, in Maine is 37, in Maryland is 263, in Massachusetts is 320, in Michigan is 278, in Minnesota is 221, in Mississippi is 106, in Missouri is 230, in Montana is 27, in Nebraska is 83, in Nevada is 45, in New Hampshire is 47, in New Jersey is 261, in New Mexico is 57, in New York is 732, in North Carolina is 307, in North Dakota is 32, in Ohio is 373, in Oklahoma is 106, in Oregon is 147, in Pennsylvania is 483, in Rhode Island is 34, in South Carolina is 150, in South Dakota is 30, in Tennessee is 234, in Texas is 668, in Utah is 73, in Vermont is 25, in Virginia is 233, in Washington is 246, in West Virginia is 62, in Wisconsin is 203, and in Wyoming is 22.