Otologists

Otologists are physicians who specialize in the diseases and disorders of the ear. In most countries they are otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists) who have completed additional training in otology or neurotology. The field focuses on the auditory and vestibular systems and encompasses conditions of the outer, middle, and inner ear as well as balance disorders affecting hearing.

Clinical work by otologists includes diagnosing and treating infections of the ear, chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, Ménière’s disease, vestibular schwannomas, and other tumors. They perform and supervise a range of surgical procedures such as tympanoplasty and ossicular reconstruction, mastoidectomy, stapedectomy or cochlear implantation, and management of congenital or acquired inner-ear abnormalities. Non-surgical care often involves audiological evaluation, vestibular testing, medication, and counseling on hearing rehabilitation.

Training and practice: medical doctors who pursue otology complete medical school, a residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, and often a fellowship in otology/neurotology. They work in hospitals, clinics, and academic centers, frequently in multidisciplinary teams with audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and balance specialists. Pediatric otology is a common subspecialty, addressing ear disease and hearing in children. The terminology varies by region; in many places the terms otologist and otolaryngologist are used interchangeably, though some use otology to denote the subspecialty.