Know your doctors: What is an otolaryngologist?

Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A. has nearly 100 healthcare providers with different jobs and titles. What do these titles mean and what care does everyone offer? This is the first in a series explaining who our providers are and what they do to keep you and your family healthy.

What is an Otolaryngologist?

An Otolaryngologist, also known as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor or ENT, is a physician trained to treat diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat, sinuses, larynx, and mouth, as well as neck and facial structures. Otolaryngologists are trained in both medicine and surgery, and can therefore offer the most appropriate care to their patients without needing to refer them to other doctors.

How does someone become an Otolaryngologist?

Like with other medical doctors, an Otolaryngologist must receive undergraduate and medical degrees, and then complete an internship and residency. ENTs also have the option of completing a fellowship in one of eight subspecialties of their choice. Those areas are allergy, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, the head and neck, laryngology, otology/neurotology, pediatric otolaryngology, rhinology, and sleep disorders.

What are some of the conditions Otolaryngologists treat?

Otolaryngologists treat a variety of pediatric and adult ear, nose, and throat conditions. Ear conditions include hearing loss, ear infections, balance disorders, tinnitus, nerve pain, and facial and cranial nerve disorders. Nasal issues include allergies, the sense of smell, and breathing. Throat issues include speech, singing, and swallowing disorders. Head and neck concerns include benign and malignant tumors, facial traumas, and deformities of the face. ENT doctors who specialize in head and neck conditions can perform cosmetic and functional plastic surgery.

ENT doctors also treat pediatric conditions such as ear infections – which sometimes includes ear tube surgery – tonsil & adenoid infections, airway problems, asthma, and allergy & sinus diseases.

Where can I get ENT treatment at CEENTA?

ENT services are offered at every one of our offices in North and South Carolina except for Statesville.

Otolaryngologists work closely with pediatricians and family doctors to keep patients healthy, CEENTA Otolaryngologist Todd Reulbach, MD, said.

“ENT doctors help to provide medical and surgical solutions for medical problems of the head and neck area,” Dr. Reulbach said. “These solutions are important to make sure that patients’ senses – hearing, taste, and smell – continue to function optimally and disease-free.”

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician.