ÖNHspecialist

ÖNHspecialist, short for Öron-, Näs- och Halsläkare, is the term used in Swedish-speaking contexts for a physician who specializes in otolaryngology. An ÖNHspecialist treats disorders of the ears, nose, and throat, and related head and neck structures. They provide medical and surgical care for conditions affecting hearing and balance, nasal and sinus health, voice and swallowing, and neck regions such as the thyroid and salivary glands. The specialty serves both adult and pediatric patients and often works in multidisciplinary teams.

Training typically involves completing medical school followed by a lengthy specialist training in otolaryngology (ÖNH). The program combines clinical practice, standardized examinations, and supervised surgical experience, leading to board certification as an ÖNH specialist. Pathways exist in other countries as well, where the field is known as otolaryngology or ENT, with similar curricula and standards. Subspecialization is common in areas such as pediatric ENT, rhinology, laryngology, neurotology, and skull-base surgery.

Common conditions and procedures: ÖNHspecialists manage hearing loss, chronic otitis media, tinnitus, chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal obstruction, deviated septum, tonsillitis, sleep apnea, hoarseness, reflux-related throat symptoms, vertigo, and related disorders. Diagnosis relies on otoscopy, nasal endoscopy, audiometry, videostroboscopy, and imaging like CT or MRI. Treatments range from medical management (antibiotics, allergy care, acid suppression) to surgical interventions such as tonsillectomy, septoplasty, sinus surgery, tympanostomy tube placement, cochlear implants, thyroid or salivary gland surgery, and endoscopic skull-base procedures.

Settings and roles: ÖNHspecialists work in hospitals, ENT clinics, and academic centers, often within teams with audiologists, speech therapists, oncologists, and allergy specialists. They provide preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and follow-up care for both children and adults.