Otolaryngologist Career


Otolaryngologist Job Description

The otolaryngologist job description states that he is involved in the treatment of disorders of the nose, ear, and throat. An otolaryngologist is also called an ENT specialist or an ENT physician.

He also treats diseases related to the head, face, and neck, and may even operate as a primary healthcare doctor.

He takes the patient’s medical history: a detail of the symptoms; assesses the affected organ using specific devices like, the nasoscope, audiometer, microscope, x-ray machine, fluoroscope and prism; and makes the disease diagnosis. He establishes the kind of damage and the level of impairment, and prescribes drugs, or performs an operation.

The physician also carries out tests to ascertain the extent of hearing loss, damage to the larynx and speech loss.

Most otolaryngologists handle cases such as tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, infected mastoid, epistaxis or nosebleed, sinusitis. The ENT specialist also treats: ear pain, ear infections, nerve disorders, ringing / humming in the ears, disorders linked to equilibrium, etc.

Otolaryngologist Education, Certification and Training

• To become an Otolaryngologist, you must have an undergraduate certificate.

• After that, you gain admission in to a medical school and obtain a Medical degree.

• After the completion of Medical School, a five years Otolaryngology residency program is a must; also, it should be acknowledged by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The schooling focuses on identification and diagnosis, and treatment of the throat, nose, head, ears, neck and face, and the associated disease conditions.

• You may then pursue a Fellowship in any domain of expertise, after you have finished the Residency coursework. A range of sub specialties are offered: facial plastic or reconstructive surgery, surgical procedures of the inner and middle ear, head and neck cancer surgery, sinus surgery, sleep apnea surgery, allergy, etc.

Otolaryngologist Jobs

The BLS states that employment of all healthcare professionals is bound to increase greater than the average. In view of that, Otolaryngologist job opportunities look good.

An otolaryngologist may be engaged at a hospital, health care set-up, medical center, private practice, or other healthcare facilities. He may have long work hours and ‘on-call’ duties.

Otolaryngologist Salary

On an average, the Otolaryngologist’s salary is approximately $191,000 and $393,000 annually. By and large, the earnings depend on the physician’s skill, expertise, qualification, employer, experience and location.