What is an otolaryngologist (ENT)?

In plain English

Otolaryngology - head and neck surgery is both a medical and a surgical specialty. Clinic work on sinuses, hearing, voice and swallowing sits alongside operating room work that runs from tonsils and ear tubes to head and neck cancer resection.

Sub-specialties include otology and neurotology, head and neck oncology, rhinology, laryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and pediatric otolaryngology. Facial plastic work overlaps plastic surgery, hearing overlaps audiology, and voice and swallowing overlap speech-language pathology - each of those a separate profession with its own licence.

Much of the specialty's procedure volume has moved into the office and into ambulatory surgery centres, and audiology and allergy services are often run inside an ENT practice. That makes these practices larger buyers of equipment than their physician headcount suggests.

Training and credentials

Medical school, a five-year otolaryngology residency, then board certification; sub-specialty fellowships add one to two years.

Where they practise

Single-specialty ENT groups with audiology in-house, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centres, academic departments, children's hospitals.