ENT - Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgeon

 

    ~An ENT is a surgeon who has studied the branch of medicine known as otolaryngology. These medical doctors focus on the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head and neck disorders. Typically, after an aspiring otolaryngologist completes medical school, they progress onto one year of general surgical training followed by four years of specialty training in otolaryngology. While these physicians may sub-specialize in many various concentrations, any ENT should be capable of either diagnosing a vocal disorder or referring a patient to an appropriate specialist.

 

A listing of sub-specialties:

 

~ Head and Neck - surgical oncology; reconstruction; endocrine surgery

 

~ Facial Plastics - facial cosmetics; maxillofacial; trauma

 

~ Otology - ear; hearing

 

~ Neuro-otology - middle and inner ear; temporal bone; skull base;

                                 dizziness

 

~Rhinology/Sinus - sinusitis; allergy; anterior skull base; apnea and

                                    snoring

 

~ Pediatrics - VeloPalantine-insufficiency; cleft lip and palate; airway;

                        vascular malformations; cochlear implant

 

~ Laryngology - voice therapy; phono-surgery

 

 

Laryngologist

 

    Laryngology deals with the branch of medicine that studies the illnesses and injuries of the larynx. It is important to note that this professional focuses on the larynx, not as much on the other two components of the vocal mechanism: the lungs and articulators. The symptoms a patient of laryngology usually experiences are either the inability to sing or speak as well as in the past or unusual discomfort or sensations of the throat. They usually deal with the diseases associated with the throat, as opposed to the conditions caused by improper use of the vocal mechanism. They will typically ask the patient to rest the voice for a week or so and return if the affliction persists. Either way, if one fears the development of injury in the throat due to singing, consulting a laryngologist is never a bad idea!