Ear, Nose & Throat Diagnosis What Are ENT Disorders? Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders Print By Kristin Hayes, RN Updated October 16, 2018 ENT exam. Westend61/Getty Images More in Ear, Nose & Throat Diagnosis Treatment Coping ENT Disorders Pediatric ENT Disorders ENT is a medical abbreviation for ears, nose and throat. A doctor who specializes in treating ENT disorders may be referred to simply as an "ENT," however, the proper name for this type of doctor is an otolaryngologist. ENT Anatomy and Function Overview The ears, nose and throat are important parts of your body that are used on a daily basis. The ears are sensory organs that are not only related to hearing, but also function to provide you with a sense of balance. The nose is also a sensory organ that not only provides you with sense of smell, but also partially provides for your sense of taste. The nose also plays an important function in humidifying air we breathe and works to prevent germs from entering the body. The throat provides the route for both air to reach the lungs, as well as the route for food and water to enter your digestive tract. Dysfunction of the ears, nose or throat can dramatically affect your quality of life and in some cases may constitute a medical emergency. If you have chronic ear, nose, or throat problems, it is advisable to not only see a primary care physician, but to also include an otolaryngologist in the management of your disorder. The rest of this article will provide basic information on common disorders of the ear, nose and throat. Tonsillitis Inflammation or infection of the tonsils is commonly called tonsillitis. This condition can be caused by the common cold, mono, or strep throat. It is a very common condition that can cause severe throat pain. When the tonsils become inflamed or infected for long periods of time, they may have to be surgically removed; this procedure is called a "tonsillectomy." Though tonsillitis used to be treated with tonsillectomy frequently, it is no longer the practice and is now only done in specific instances. One of the most common conditions that warrants a tonsillectomy is sleep apnea. When inflammation is severe enough, it can interfere with swallowing and breathing. Tonsil removal is indicated in cases of extreme obstruction of the airways or swallowing. Less absolute indications for tonsillectomy include: recurrent strep throat, chronic tonsillitis that does not improve with antibiotics, obstruction leading to bad breath or changes in voice. There are many causes of tonsillitis. Ear Infections Ear infections occur when germs enter the ear and become trapped there. Symptoms of ear infections include: painhearing lossbalance problemsrecent upper respiratory infectionsdrainage from the ear (from a ruptured tympanic membrane) Small children are more likely to have ear infections. Signs of an ear infection in your child may include: irritability that escalates at bedtimebalance problemsfever Some children may pull or tug at their ears. If the infection goes untreated for long periods of time, it can cause delays in their development, such as hearing and speech delays. If your child has chronic ear infections, your doctor may choose to surgically put small tubes inside your child's ear; these are called ventilation tubes. Sinus Infections Sinuses are cavities in the skull that surround the eyes and nose and are responsible for vocal resonance. Sinusitis occurs when these cavities become infected by a bacteria or virus or inflamed due to allergies or other conditions. Symptoms of sinusitis include: difficulty breathingheadacherunny nosesneezing and coughingbad breathpain around the eyes or across the bridge of the nosetoothaches Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a brief cessation of breathing while asleep. It can occur in both adults and children. Common causes of sleep apnea include: being overweightenlarged tonsils or other structures in the nose and throathaving a naturally shorter airway than usual Symptoms of sleep apnea include: snoringwitnessed episodes of snoring and gasping during sleepwaking up feeling unrestedheadachesfatiguedepressionwaking up with a very dry or sore throatwaking up several times during the night If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause heart failure, depression, mood changes and other diseases. Treatment recommendations often include lifestyle and diet changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or in the case of airway abnormalities, ENT surgery. It should be noted that while some ENT doctors are comfortable treating any disease involving the ear, nose and throat, others are more specialized. Be prepared to discuss your symptoms when you visit with your specialist. Other ENT disorders include hearing loss, vertigo, acid reflux, cancers of the ear, nose and throat and many more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you reach your 2019 goals. Email Address Sign Up There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Public Education: Sinusitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/sinus.htm Sleep Apnea. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_Diagnosis.html Continue Reading