For our whole lives, we’ve known about the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Before we even had names to attach to them, we were using our senses to learn about everything from colors and shapes to the infinite complexity of the English language. When we were a little bit older, we learned that these senses are the headquarters of our experiences in the world. Later, in our English classes, we learned that just by reading specific words, those senses could be triggered. Essentially, we have been learning to appreciate the five senses for our entire lives. Now, we are learning to protect and take care of them–and that is where Otolaryngologists come in.
Otolaryngologists
Otolaryngologists are crucial in the health and function of quite a few of those senses–hearing, taste, and smell, to be precise. An otolaryngologist is an ear, nose, and throat doctor, but the work encompasses more than the care and keeping of the senses. These doctors are also concerned with maintaining the ability to swallow, ease of breathing, sense of balance, and more–which means that, though they’re known as “ear, nose, and throat doctors,” Otolaryngologists are responsible for a lot more of our health than we may realize.
The Seven Areas of Expertise
Although an ear, nose, and throat doctor would naturally be known for work on hearing, smell, and the ability to properly experience taste, there are countless other aspects of our health that otolaryngologists can control by focusing on–you guessed it–the ear, nose, and throat.
- Allergies. Otolaryngologists can help ease, treat, or minimize allergies. This often includes either avoiding the allergen, using medication, or both.
- Facial plastic surgery. While the name “ear, nose, and throat doctor” may suggest a focus on ear-aches and swallowing disorders, otolaryngologists can also do plastic surgery–both cosmetic and reconstructive.
- Head and neck. The head and neck are two more targets of an otolaryngologist. Anything from cancer in the voice box to lumps in the thyroid can be treated by an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
- Laryngology. In their work on the throat, otolaryngologists can also focus on issues specifically relating to the voice box and vocal cords.
- Otology. It’s true: ear, nose, and throat doctors must often put a lot of focus into the ear in particular. As well as being crucial for one of our senses, ears and their nerve pathways are a headquarters for balance control, which means that otolaryngologists must put special focus on any issues that may occur in this area.
- Pediatrics. Ear, nose, and throat doctors can also apply their craft to children, and whether the issue is a birth defect or a developmental delay, otolaryngologists can take care of little ears, noses, and throats as well as the larger ones.
- Rhinology. Any disorders of the nose and sinuses are also tackled by otolaryngologists, completing the “ear, nose, and throat” trio.
Otolaryngologists may be ear, nose, and throat doctors, but their work can help more than just hearing, smell, and taste. Are you interested in reliable Otolaryngologists? Contact us at (208) 336-4368 today!