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 11,105 practicing otolaryngologists. Broken out by state, otolaryngology doctor density in Alabama is 174, in Alaska is 33, in Arizona is 153, in Arkansas is 98, in California is 1,347, in Colorado is 178, in Connecticut is 150, in Delaware is 28, in District of Columbia is 82, in Florida is 645, in Georgia is 344, in Hawaii is 48, in Idaho is 42, in Illinois is 452, in Indiana is 240, in Iowa is 133, in Kansas is 91, in Kentucky is 150, in Louisiana is 241, in Maine is 41, in Maryland is 275, in Massachusetts is 353, in Michigan is 292, in Minnesota is 229, in Mississippi is 117, in Missouri is 261, in Montana is 32, in Nebraska is 91, in Nevada is 48, in New Hampshire is 46, in New Jersey is 301, in New Mexico is 56, in New York is 830, in North Carolina is 333, in North Dakota is 34, in Ohio is 411, in Oklahoma is 114, in Oregon is 155, in Pennsylvania is 520, in Rhode Island is 40, in South Carolina is 167, in South Dakota is 29, in Tennessee is 242, in Texas is 782, in Utah is 92, in Vermont is 26, in Virginia is 266, in Washington is 259, in West Virginia is 69, in Wisconsin is 226, and in Wyoming is 18.
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