Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery and care involves the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a wide range of disorders in the head and neck. These can include commonplace issues like runny noses, vertigo and hearing loss, as well as life-threatening conditions such as cancer.
ENT practitioners address issues with hearing, balance, smell, taste, breathing, swallowing, voice and sleep, for people at all ages across the lifespan, from newborn babies and children to adults and the elderly.
More specifically referred to as Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery (OHNS), specialist areas include audiology, cancers of the head and neck, laryngology, neurology, olfaction, otology, rhinology, sleep and vestibular function.
Ear, Nose and Throat specialist fields cover a breadth of adult, paediatric and other targeted areas. Common sub-specialties include:
Audiology: analysis/testing of hearing
Cancers of the head and neck: often referred to as 'Head and Neck', relating to malignancy thereof
Laryngology: diseases, disorders, injuries of the larynx and vocal apparatus
Neurology: anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system
Olfaction: regarding scent and smell
Otology: embraces outer, inner and middle ears
Rhinology: affecting the nose and sinuses
Sleep: sleep apnoea and other sleep-specific conditions
Vestibular function: balance and inner ear