Understanding the ENT Specialist Doctors' Tasks and Conditions Treated

ENT specialists are doctors who have specific expertise in treating diseases related to the ear, nose and throat. In addition, ENT specialists are also tasked with overcoming a number of diseases that occur in the head and neck. Just like specialists in general, ENT specialists also have to complete general medical education first. A doctor will get the title of ENT specialist after completing special education in the ears, nose and throat, in a period of four years or more.

Various Diseases Treated by ENT Specialists

ENT specialists have in-depth knowledge of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases related to the ear, nose and throat. ENT doctors can treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. Diseases handled by ENT specialists include:

• Ear disorders

These conditions include hearing loss, balance disorders, buzzing ears, infections, tumors or cancer in the ear.

• Nasal disorders

These conditions include allergies, sinusitis, difficulty kissing a scent, nasal injuries, nasal congestion, and tumors or cancer in the nose.

• Throat disorders

These conditions include difficulty swallowing, disturbed sound, disruption of the adenoids, laryngitis, or tonsillitis.

• Sleep disturbance

These conditions include obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, and other sleep disorders caused by narrowing of the respiratory tract.

• Disorders of the neck and head

These conditions include problems in the skull, oral cavity, salivary glands, thyroid gland and parathyroid, or some disorders of the facial skin.

However, not all abnormalities in the neck and head area can be treated by ENT specialists. There are a number of diseases that need to be treated by other specialists. For example, problems in the brain will be handled by neurologists, or eye disorders will be handled by ophthalmologists.

Actions Performed by ENT Specialists

Some of the following actions can be performed by ENT specialists as a step for further examination and treatment:

• Audiometry

Audiometry examination is done to assess hearing ability. This examination can help detect deafness.

• Oesophagoscopy

In this procedure, the doctor will insert a flexible tube with the end of the camera into the mouth, then directed it to the esophagus to assess throat disorders, such as difficult swallowing conditions.

• Sinus surgery with endoscopy

In this procedure, the doctor will insert a small binocular tube into the nasal passages to diagnose and treat sinuses.

• Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is performed to cut and remove tonsils from the throat. This surgery is usually done on pediatric patients.

• Septoplasty

This operation aims to improve the position of the nasal septum and open the obstruction that blocks the respiratory tract.

• Tracheostomy

The main purpose of the tracheostomy procedure is to facilitate blocked airways, by placing an airway in the trachea.

• Tympanomastoidectomy

This operation aims to reconstruct and eliminate epithelial inclusions (cholesteatoma) that are in the middle ear. The doctor will remove abnormal tissue or that has been damaged due to infection in the mastoid bone area behind the ear. Then the ENT doctor will also repair the eardrum, as well as the hearing bones.

• Tumor surgery on the neck

ENT specialists are also in charge of performing operations to remove lumps or tumors that are in the neck and head area.

When should you see an ENT specialist?

Not all disorders that occur in the ear, nose and throat must be treated directly by an ENT specialist. Generally, new patients are treated by ENT specialists after receiving a referral from a general practitioner, because the condition is quite serious or requires further treatment, such as surgery. To prevent a serious impact, you should immediately contact a doctor if you experience complaints in the ears, nose, and throat. Symptoms to watch out for include:

• Nasal congestion.
• Smell is disturbed.
• Buzzing ears.
• Hearing impaired.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Sleep snoring frequently

If you feel the symptoms above, you should consult a doctor. If your general practitioner recommends an examination with an ENT specialist, you can ask for an ENT specialist's name on a general practitioner. In addition, recommendations from ENT specialists can also be obtained from family members or friends.