Otolaryngology is the medical name for ear, nose, and throat conditions. Double board-certified Shivan Amin, MD, at Midtown ENT in Atlanta, Georgia, is an experienced otolaryngologist offering expert care to patients 3 and older. He’s also a highly skilled surgeon performing minimally invasive procedures in his on-site miniature operating room. Call Midtown ENT today or schedule a consultation online to learn more about benefiting from exceptional otolaryngology services.
Otolaryngology is a surgical and medical specialty concerned with head and neck disorders. This includes diagnosing and treating all head conditions and injuries apart from eye (ophthalmology) problems and neurological disorders affecting the brain.
Otolaryngologists are better known as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors. Some treat all ENT problems, while others specialize.
Your primary care doctor might refer you to an otolaryngologist like Dr. Amin if you have one or more of these symptoms:
These problems often indicate that you have an otolaryngology disorder. Dr. Amin completes a physical exam, checks your medical history, and discusses your symptoms to determine what’s wrong. He could also order diagnostic testing, including a blood or mucus/discharge lab test, fiberoptic exams of the throat or nasal cavity, CT scan, or MRI.
Otology/Neurotology: This subspecialty focuses on diseases of the ear and balance system, and can include complex surgeries such as cochlear implants for hearing loss or surgery for chronic ear infections. Neurotology is a further sub-specialization that includes the management of neurological disorders of the ear.
Rhinology: This subspecialty deals specifically with diseases of the nose and sinuses. Rhinologists often manage complex sinusitis, polyps, and can also perform reconstructive surgery to fix the nasal septum or to improve the aesthetic appearance of the nose.
Laryngology: Laryngologists focus on diseases of the throat, including the larynx (voice box). They treat disorders such as dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), laryngitis, and vocal cord disorders.
Pediatric Otolaryngology: These specialists focus on ENT disorders in children, which can include congenital disorders such as cleft palates, or common conditions like tonsillitis.
Head and Neck Surgery: This involves the treatment of tumors and other conditions of the head and neck, including the thyroid and parathyroid. Surgeons in this area often work closely with oncologists in managing cancers of the head and neck.
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: These surgeons specialize in procedures to improve the function and appearance of structures in the head and neck, such as rhinoplasty (nose job), otoplasty (ear surgery), facial reconstruction after trauma or cancer surgery, and cosmetic procedures like facelifts.
Allergy: Some ENT specialists focus specifically on managing allergies, as these can often cause or exacerbate ENT conditions.
Sleep Medicine: Given the role of the nose and throat in breathing, some otolaryngologists also specialize in treating sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and snoring.
Each subspecialty in otolaryngology requires additional training beyond the general otolaryngology residency, often in the form of a one to two-year fellowship.