Otorinolaringologiya

Otorinolaringologiya, known in English as otorhinolaryngology or otolaryngology, is a medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). It also covers related structures of the head and neck, including disorders of balance and hearing, voice, swallowing, and sleep-related breathing. Physicians in this field are called otorhinolaryngologists or ENT specialists.

Common conditions treated include ear infections and hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo; sinusitis and nasal obstruction, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps; tonsillitis and adenoids; hoarseness, voice and swallowing disorders; and head and neck tumors. Diagnostic methods include physical examination, audiology testing, nasal endoscopy, laryngoscopy, imaging (CT, MRI), and endoscopic procedures. Treatments range from medications to surgical interventions such as tympanostomy tubes, tympanoplasty, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, septoplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery, cochlear implantation, and various head and neck oncologic surgeries.

Education and training: Otorhinolaryngologists complete medical school followed by residency in ENT, with optional fellowships in subspecialties such as pediatric ENT, rhinology, laryngology, otology/neurotology, and head and neck surgery. The field often collaborates with audiologists, speech-language pathologists, radiologists, and oncologists. The practice emphasizes preserving sensory functions and improving quality of life.

History: The field has ancient roots and matured with advances in anesthesia, antisepsis, endoscopy, and imaging, leading to modern techniques in both medical and surgical management.