Do you have a persistent sinus infection that just won’t go away? Or pain in your face? Do you have trouble swallowing? Maybe you’ve lost your hearing and it hasn’t returned. All of these could be reasons to see an ENT specialist, or ear, nose, and throat doctor.
Your primary care physician may have referred you to an ENT and you may be wondering what to expect. Let’s see if we can answer a few questions for you.
WHAT IS AN EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT DOCTOR?
An ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT, is also known as an otolaryngologist. They are specialists that deal with disorders and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat and related areas of the head or your neck.
To become an ENT, your physician must graduate from medical school, complete at least five years of specialty training, and pass a certification examination for the American Board of Otolaryngology to become board certified. Many of our Tanner Clinic ENT specialists, located in Layton, UT, also specialize in a subspecialty of otolaryngology, which requires an additional one to two years of training.
Here are a few subspecialties of some ENT’s:
- Pediatric otolaryngology
- Otology/neurotology/audiology
- Allergies
- Head and neck surgery
- Laryngology
- Rhinology
- Sleep medicine
WHAT AREAS DOES AN EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT DOCTOR TREAT?
The name of an ENT specialist is a dead giveaway. They treat the ear, nose, and throat and any areas that are related. Your otolaryngologist is an expert in the medical and surgical management of these areas:
- The ears: If you have an ear disorder or condition, or you have a congenital disorder.
- The nose: Conditions that affect the nose, nasal cavity, and sinuses. If you have trouble with smell, breathing, or your physical appearance.
- The throat: Disorders and conditions that affect your speech, singing, eating, swallowing, or digestion.
- Related conditions of the head and neck: Diseases, trauma, tumors, and other deformities of the head, neck, and face. Certain cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries may be performed by an ENT rather than a plastic surgeon. Also, an ENT may treat nerves in the head and neck that affect various senses, such as your sight, smell, hearing, and feelings in the face or neck.
WHEN SHOULD I SEE AN ENT SPECIALIST?
Your primary care physician will most likely refer you to an ENT specialist. Here are a few of the reasons you may need an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
Persistent and chronic sinus infections or sinusitis
An ENT can diagnose and treat these conditions, but more importantly, they can consult with you if these infections continue to develop and explain how to keep them from recurring.
Laryngitis
While your primary care physician may initially treat a case of laryngitis, an ENT will be referred if your symptoms continue for six weeks or more. There may be another reason you have a hoarse voice and an otolaryngologist can diagnose the source of the problem.
Ear infection
These are commonly treated by your PCP, but some severe ear infections may cause the eardrum to burst. If you have repeated ear infections, a tumor or growth may be to blame and you’ll need to consult with an ENT to figure out what the problem is.
Tonsillitis
Many people had their tonsils removed as children. Nowadays, doctors try to treat tonsillitis with medicine and if that fails, and ENT will need to perform surgery to remove your tonsils or adenoids.
Sleep apnea
Disorders while sleeping can lead to a whole range of health and mental health issues. Sleep apnea can be the culprit where you temporarily stop breathing at night. An ENT may prescribe a breathing machine or surgery to fix the problem.
Hearing issues
Hearing problems such as hearing loss, muffled sounds, tinnitus or ringing in the ear, and injuries can all be diagnosed by an ENT. You may just have wax build up or you may need surgical intervention.
Vertigo
Your inner ear controls your balance. If you experience vertigo or dizziness, an ENT can help you manage your condition.
Swollen lymph nodes
If you have lumps in your neck or throat that won’t go away after two weeks, you may need to visit an ENT. This could be a sign of cancer in the mouth, throat, or thyroid gland.
WHEN SHOULD I SEE MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN INSTEAD?
Not all ear, nose, and throat problems need to be treated or managed by an ENT. Your primary care physician may be qualified to treat many common symptoms.
Some of these include:
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
- Sinusitis
- Hearing loss due to minor infection
- Growths
If your condition is severe or too complex, your PCP will refer you to the proper specialist and may recommend an ENT specialist that is an expert in a specific subspecialty. Many pediatricians may refer small patients to a pediatric ENT because they have specialized equipment to manage the smaller ear, nose, and throat areas. Children who need to have tubes inserted in their ears, for example, may be referred to an otolaryngologist.
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ENT?
At Tanner Clinic’s various Utah locations, including Layton, UT, our specialists are available by appointment. It’s best to receive a referral from your primary care physician. To make an appointment, call us at 810-773-4865 Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 6 PM or Saturday from 8 AM to 1:30 PM or you can fill out this contact form.
