Skip to main content
Go to homepage

Print Page

Health Care Providers: Otolaryngologists

What Is Otolaryngology?

Otolaryngology (oh-toh-lar-un-GAHL-uh-jee) is the medical specialty that deals with diseases and problems of the ear, nose, and throat.

What Is an Otolaryngologist?

An otolaryngologist (oh-toh-lar-un-GAHL-uh-jist), often called an ENT, is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, prevents, and treats diseases and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.

Why Would Someone Need One?

Otolaryngologists care for people with ear, nose, and throat problems such as:

They do medical tests and procedures such as:

What Is Their Training?

An otolaryngologist's training includes:

  • 4 years of pre-medical education at a college or university
  • 4 years of medical school — a medical degree (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree
  • 5 years of residency training, including:
    • 1 year of training in a general surgery residency
    • 4 years of training in an otolaryngology residency

They also might have:

  • expertise in a subspecialty area (for example, pediatric otolaryngology, head and neck, or plastic/reconstruction) after 2 years or more in a fellowship program. A “fellow” is a doctor who had more specialty training after completing medical school and residency training.

Good to Know

  • ENTs often work with allergy specialists to treat problems in the ears, nose, sinuses, and throat caused by allergies.
  • Advancements in robotic and laser surgery have made ENT procedures to the head and neck less invasive.

Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts
Date Reviewed: Sep 5, 2022

Lea este articulo en Español

What next?

Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
There are 10 nurses in the picture.

And we have many more pediatric primary care providers in Northeast Ohio. You can meet some of them here.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The five differences are:
– Phone color
– Coat pocket
– Stethoscope earpiece color
– Stethoscope bell dot
– Clipboard paper color

Need help finding a doctor, choosing a location or getting a general question about Akron Children's answered? Call us or fill out the form and we'll help in any way we can.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The two matching doctors are 9 and 14.

With virtual visits, you can see our pediatric experts from the comfort of home or wherever you are.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The correct path:
The Correct Path
We offer many ways to get pediatric care all over Northeast Ohio. Use this page to find the right kind of care and the most convenient location for you.