An ENT physician treats injuries and disorders like tumors, facial trauma, and facial deformities. As part of treatment, ENT physicians may perform cosmetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery. Following are some specific ear, nose, and throat problems that ENT physicians commonly treat:
Ears - ear pain, deafness, infections, balance disorders, and tinnitus
Nose - nasal cavity infections, various nasal allergies, and cosmetic imperfections of the nose
Throat - diseases of the larynx (voice box) and the upper aero-digestive track, or esophagus, including voice and swallowing disorders
How to Become an ENT Physician
Interested in building a career in otolaryngology? The ENT physician’s job profile requires four years of premedical study to obtain a bachelors’ degree, four years of medical school, one year in a general surgery residency program, and four more years in an otolaryngology residency program. ENT physicians then go on for an additional year or two of study through fellowship programs in one of seven subspecialty areas, including pediatric otolaryngology, otology/neurotology, allergies, plastic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck disorders, laryngology, and rhinology.
The following points sum up the main requirements of a medical education leading to qualification as an otolaryngologist:
- four years of medical school
- five years of specialty training
- one to two years of fellowship for more extensive training in subspecialty areas
- successful completion of the American Board of Otolaryngology examination
The ENT physician treats various types of simple to complicated ear, nose, and throat complaints. These complaints include allergies, ear infections, sinusitis, sore throats, and diseases and disorders of the head and neck.
An otolaryngologist’s field of operation is obviously somewhat limited. However, in dealing with the head and neck areas, ENT physicians have to treat the vital parts of the human body that comprise the seat of four of the five senses — sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Using strong investigative judgment, ENT doctors help patients tackle problems in these areas with the help of medicine, alternative therapies, and surgery.
ENT physicians are trained in both medicine and surgery. They can therefore diagnose, treat, and manage primary care and clinical problems, as well as perform surgical procedures on the head and neck.
Duties of an ENT Physician
The daily tasks of ENT physicians include treating mild to severe conditions such as sinusitis, larynx disorders owing to sore throats, reflux disease, hearing loss, cancer, tonsillitis, and more. In rare instances, ENT physicians also carry out corrective procedures like rhinoplasty or reconstructive surgery to correct congenital disorders or other deformities.
Apart from treating the more common infections like hay fever or chronic sinusitis, ENT physicians are also adept in treatment of infectious diseases, both benign and cancerous tumors, facial trauma, and deformities of the face.
Career Prospects for ENT Physicians
Otolaryngologists work in hospitals, private practices, clinics, or other healthcare facilities, and their salaries are based on their levels of experience, the types of facilities in which in they practice, and their specialties. On average, ENT physicians earn between $215,000 and $360,000 a year, with the median expected salary being somewhere around $270,000 for mid-career specialists.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the market for ENT physicians is expected to grow through 2014. It is also predicted to remain strong thereafter, as more than 35 million Americans suffer from sinus-related conditions every year, and a growing geriatric population is expected to lead to an increased incidence of auditory dysfunction.
