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, Snoring, Sinusitis, Hearing loss, Rhinitis, Deviated septum, Hyperparathyroidism, Laryngitis, Head and neck cancer, Tonsillitis, labyrinthitis, Thyroid cancer, Otitis media, Mastoiditis, Pharyngitis, acoustic neuroma, throat disorders, Endolymphatic hydrops, and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Chemotherapy, brow lift, bronchoscopy, Tonsillectomy, septoplasty, myringotomy, face lift, Radiation therapy, 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 Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Blood Test, x-ray, skin test, Submandibular Exam, Laryngeal Exam, and microbiological culture.
Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 11,158 practicing otolaryngologists. Broken out by state, otolaryngology doctor density in Alabama is 174, in Alaska is 32, in Arizona is 151, in Arkansas is 96, in California is 1,335, in Colorado is 175, in Connecticut is 149, in Delaware is 26, in District of Columbia is 80, in Florida is 644, in Georgia is 342, in Hawaii is 47, in Idaho is 41, in Illinois is 444, in Indiana is 235, in Iowa is 131, in Kansas is 91, in Kentucky is 148, in Louisiana is 240, in Maine is 41, in Maryland is 272, in Massachusetts is 348, in Michigan is 284, in Minnesota is 216, in Mississippi is 117, in Missouri is 256, in Montana is 31, in Nebraska is 89, in Nevada is 48, in New Hampshire is 47, in New Jersey is 297, in New Mexico is 54, in New York is 827, in North Carolina is 332, in North Dakota is 31, in Ohio is 409, in Oklahoma is 113, in Oregon is 153, in Pennsylvania is 513, in Rhode Island is 40, in South Carolina is 165, in South Dakota is 29, in Tennessee is 237, in Texas is 774, in Utah is 92, in Vermont is 26, in Virginia is 262, in Washington is 255, in West Virginia is 69, in Wisconsin is 223, and in Wyoming is 17.
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