What is Otolaryngology?

Otolaryngology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT). It is the oldest medical and surgical specialty in the United States.

An otolaryngologist is a physician that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. Otolaryngologists are also referred to as ENT physicians. The following are some of the medical and surgical treatments performed by otolaryngologists:

• Sinusitis
• Nasal obstruction
• Sleep apnea
• Hoarseness
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
• Allergies
• Removal of tonsils and adenoids
• Placement of ventilation tubes
• Repair eardrums
• Removal of facial skin cancers
• Treatment of cancer of the salivary glands, thyroid gland, mouth and throat

What Specialties do Otolaryngologists Cover?

Otology/Neurotology: diseases of the ear, including trauma (injury), cancer, and nerve pathway disorders, which affect hearing and balance.
Examples: ear infection; swimmer's ear; hearing loss; ear, face, or neck pain; dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

Pediatric Otolaryngology: diseases in children with special ENT problems including birth defects in the head and neck and developmental delays.
Examples: ear infection (otitis media), tonsil and adenoid infection, airway problems, Down’s syndrome, asthma and allergy/sinus disease.

Head and Neck: cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in the head and neck, including the thyroid and parathyroid.
Examples: lump in the neck or thyroid, cancer of the voice box.

Rhinology: disorders of the nose and sinuses.
Examples: sinus disorder, nose bleed, stuffy nose, loss of smell.

Laryngology: disorders of the throat, including voice and swallowing problems.
Examples: sore throat, hoarseness, swallowing disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Allergy: treatment by medication, immunotherapy (allergy shots) and/or avoidance of pollen, dust, mold, food, and other sensitivities that affect the ear, nose, and throat.
Examples: hay fever, seasonal and perennial rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, laryngitis, sore throat, otitis media, dizziness.

Have You Heard?

Albany ENT is the only practice in Southwest Georgia where a patient can see a physician specializing in treatment of the ear, nose, throat and allergies, or a board-certified audiologist and purchase a hearing device - all in the same place, often on the same day.

Albany ENT is proud to have Dr. Monica Mennite, a licensed audiologist in the state of Georgia, as part of our team.
Dr. Mennite stands in our newly redesigned Audiotorium, a showroom where patients can browse the many types of hearing devices on the market today!